49ers add depth to roster, next year's draft

"  SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) Trent Baalke never felt pressured to load up on rookies orsacrifice depth to make one, splashy pick.With a talented roster expected to challenge for the Super Bowl,the San Francisco 49ers general manager instead built depth andcreated future flexibility on the final day of the NFL draft.Baalke still hopes the 49ers also plugged a few holes - andmaybe found a hidden gem - in Saturday's late rounds, selectingguard Joe Looney of Wake Forest, Notre Dame linebacker DariusFleming, Michigan State free safety Trenton Robinson, offensivelineman Jason Slowey of Western Oregon and defensive end CamJohnson of Virginia. San Francisco also netted three picks for the2013 draft.''It's all about value,'' Baalke said. ''We feel good about thatdepth. It's about drafting players at the right value, and alsomaking sure that they have a legitimate chance to make thisfootball team.''Going to back to Friday's third round, it seemed San Franciscomight never draft another player.The 49ers traded back three straight times from the 92nd pickbefore moving up to land Looney in the fourth round and 117thoverall. San Francisco sent its original fourth-round pick (125th)and a sixth-rounder (196th) to Detroit.The 6-foot-3, 318-pound Looney started at left guard the lastthree seasons for the Demon Deacons and - unlike the team's otherpicks on the final day - could have an immediate chance to play.San Francisco lost right guard Adam Snyder to Arizona in freeagency.''As impressive an interview as we had at the combine,'' 49erscoach Jim Harbugh said of Looney, emphasizing the lineman's''oomph'' and ''pizazz'' as reasons. ''We believe he will be astarter in this league for us.''Looney has a head start.He spent part of the offseason working out with former 49erscenter Jeremy Newberry (1998-2006), who knows Looney's agent, AndyRoss. The practice should speed up Looney's learning curve inHarbaugh's complex version of the West Coast offense.The pulling guard - a key position in San Francisco'szone-blocking scheme to attack linebackers - had a left ankleinjury that kept him from working out at the NFL scouting combinein Indianapolis and Wake Forest's pro day. He said Dr. Bob Anderson- the same specialist to perform surgery on Golden State Warriorsguard Stephen Curry's right ankle last year - in Charlotte clearedhim for running and jumping activities two weeks ago.''I love pulling around, coming up on linebackers,'' saidLooney, who can also play center. ''I feel like that's an offensivelineman's time to shine.''Looney's selection followed a series of trades by San Franciscoto add future picks.Baalke parlayed the original 92th overall pick in the thirdround into five picks in trades with Indianapolis, Miami andCarolina. In all, that included a pair of sixth-round selectionsSaturday - one of which was later sent to Detroit - plus a pick inthe third, fifth and sixth round in 2013.The 49ers lost to the eventual champion New York Giants in theNFC title game and figured it best not to overload with late pickswho probably won't make a talented roster this fall anyway.''We feel like we're ready to go,'' Baalke said, acknowledgingthe team will sign undrafted free agents in the coming days.That will include at least a trio of former Stanford players -defensive end Matt Masifilo, wide receiver Chris Owusu and safetyMichael Thomas - who Harbaugh recruited while the Cardinal's coach.Masifilo drove from the nearby campus and signed minutes after thedraft ended.''That's probably one race and the last race I'll ever winagainst Owusu,'' said Masifilo, confirming his teammates would soonjoin. ''Coach Harbaugh likes to cut drag. He said it's acompetition to get down here as fast you can.''Familiarity proved to be a common theme for Harbaugh's newgroup.The 49ers drafted wide receiver A.J. Jenkins of Illinois in thefirst round Thursday before selecting Oregon running back LaMichaelJames on Friday. James, Looney and Fleming made it three straightplayers Harbaugh had faced while Stanford's coach.Fleming had 55 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks, one interception and oneforced fumble for the Fighting Irish last season. San Francisco hasperhaps the NFL's best linebacker corps with All-Pros PatrickWillis and NaVorro Bowman and sensational rookie Aldon Smith, amongothers, but a shortage of outside linebackers. Still, it will betough for Fleming to find playing time as a rookie beyond specialteams.Even though he will be half a continent away from his nativeChicago, Fleming should feel right at home.He was a college roommate of San Francisco's Ian Williams, andthe two are close friends. Fleming, who wanted to avoid the agonyof watching the draft, was stuck in Chicago traffic when Harbaughcalled him to deliver the news.''I was actually rolling pretty well and then once I got thecall traffic hit,'' Fleming said. ''I'm fine with being stuck intraffic now that I'm a 49er.''In the sixth round, San Francisco took Robinson 180th and Slowey199th overall.Robinson had 76 tackles last season and his nine careerinterceptions are tied for 12th in Michigan State history. Sloweyplayed left tackle for most of his career at Western Oregon but isprojected at center or guard in the NFL.The 49ers took Johnson in the seventh round and 237th overall.The Virginia defensive end is expected to shift to a pass-rushingoutside linebacker in Vic Fangio's 3-4 scheme in a transitionsimilar to the one Aldon Smith made a year ago.''It's a historic day for so many of these young men,'' anoverenthusiastic Harbaugh said. ''But it's not the end. It's verymuch the beginning.''---Follow Antonio Gonzalez at: www.twitter.com/agonzalezAP"