May 29, 2011; Indianapolis, IN, USA; The Indianapolis 500 centennial logo and the car of Indy Car Series driver Bruno Junqueira prior to the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Guy Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh has coached in a Super Bowl and was named AP Coach of the Year in 2011, but apparently one of his greatest memories will come this weekend and it will not be on the football field. Instead, Harbaugh will be in the pace car at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indianapolis 500.

“I count this as one of the great memories of my life, as long as I don’t screw it up,” Harbaugh said, via FOX News. “My first time around, I knew I had more work to do, and Johnny has been coaching me up, and my confidence went up a lot when I got more practice. I’m looking forward to going out there.”

Harbaugh is no stranger to the racing world.

The coach got interested in Indy cars during his playing days with the Indianapolis Colts and since then he has went on to form Panther Racing, which has two cars in the race.

For those wanting to know what kind of car Harbaugh will be driving to pace the field, it is a 2014 Corvette Stingray. Once the race begins, three-time Indy 500 winner Johnny Rutherford will get behind the wheel of the pace car.

Here is an image of the Corvette Stingray Harbaugh and Rutherford will be driving:

(Photo by Bret Kelley for Chevrolet)

Tune in tomorrow for coverage of the Indianapolis 500 right here on FanSided.com.

Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) carries the ball in for a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco 49ers were dealt a pretty significant blow to their offense when wide receiver Michael Crabtree tore his Achilles tendon and will miss the next six months recovering from surgery. But while the Niners will miss Crabtree and the confidence he gives third year quarterback Colin Kaepernick, head coach Jim Harbaugh is positive one of San Francisco’s numerous receivers will step up and replace Crabtree while he’s out.

Harbaugh hopped on 95.7 The Game to talk about who would replace Crabtree, and the younger Harbaugh brother said guys like A.J. Jenkins, Ricardo Lockette and rookie Quinton Patton will have a chance to step up and prove themselves.

“We’ll put Jenkins, Patton, Ricardo Lockette at the same position and let them compete and emerge,” Harbaugh said on The Game. “The good news is that somebody will emerge because they have to.”

While the Niners have guys that can step up and potentially fill in for Crabtree, he’ll be hard to replace in terms of what he did for Colin Kaepernick and his confidence in 2012. Crabtree proved to be Kaepernick’s favorite target and was starting to emerge as a star receiver thanks to all the attention and success. But as Harbaugh mentioned in his interview, the Niners are deeper than just Crabtree and could end up not even needing guys like Jenkins or Patton with targets like Mario Manningham, Anquan Boldin and others who will benefit from being bumped up the depth chart in terms of how often Kaepernick will look their way.

Crabtree’s absence won’t be easy to deal with, but the Niners seem to have the depth to survive.

Jan 31, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Francisco 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree (15) at press conference at the Marriott New Orleans in advance of Super Bowl XLVII against the Baltimore Ravens. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The news broke on Wednesday afternoon that San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree suffered a torn Achilles tendon and he has already began the recovery process. Crabtree underwent surgery on the torn Achilles, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. Crabtree is expected to need at least six months to recover from the surgery.

If all goes well, Crabtree would be back on the field for the 49ers in Week 12 of the season.

It is a very unfortunate setback for Crabtree, who is coming off of a season that had career highs in receptions (85), yards (1,105) and touchdowns (nine). Losing him is also a devastating blow to the San Francisco offense.

Without Crabtree, the 49ers will have to rely heavily on Anquan Boldin, who was acquired during an offseason trade, and 2012 first-round draft pick A.J. Jenkins. Last year’s No. 2 wide receiver Mario Manningham is also in for a big role, while this year’s fourth-round pick Quinton Patton could be poised to burst onto the scene in his first season.

Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) speaks to the media after losing Super Bowl XLVII against Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco 49ers are one of the most talented teams in the NFL, but their roster took a hit during OTAs as former first-round draft pick Michael Crabtree went down with a torn Achilles tendon, according to Mike Garafolo of USA Today. Crabtree will reportedly soon undergo surgery that could end his season before it even began.

There is a chance that Crabtree could return late in the season, but at his position it would be unlikely.

Crabtree will almost certainly start the season on the PUP list while the 49ers determine whether or not he will have a chance to return during the season.

It is a very unfortunate injury for Crabtree, who is coming off a season that saw career highs in receptions (85), yards (1,105) and touchdowns (nine). He was hoping to duplicate that success this season while helping the 49ers make another Super Bowl run.

Luckily for the 49ers, they acquired Anquan Boldin earlier in the offseason so they do have a capable No. 1 receiver on the team.

Feb 1, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; General view of a Vince Lombardi Trophy at the commissioner

Although the San Francisco Bay Area was deemed the favorite to be awarded Super Bowl 50, there were rumblings that Miami could pull an upset.

That will not be the case as today, the NFL awarded the San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl 50, also known as Super Bowl L.

Tech giants in the surrounding area put big money into the bid and with the 49ers $1.2 billion dollar state of the art stadium set to open in just a year, it was an obvious choice for NFL owners.

Santa Clara’s mayor and City Council were watching live coverage of the NFL’s decision in City Council chambers at City Hall, city spokesman Dan Beerman said.

“Everyone’s excited,” Beerman said.

San Francisco city officials were also anxiously awaiting the decision.

“We’re on the five-yard line and ready to go,” Mayor Ed Lee said Monday.

Jed York, the 49ers’ CEO, gave his team’s 15-minute presentation and representatives of the Miami organization delivered theirs at the Boston meeting.

The 49ers new stadium will still be in its infancy when Super Bowl 50 makes its way to the Bay Area in 2016 as Levi’s Stadium is set to open for the 2014 season.

It will mark the first time in 13 years that the Super Bowl will be played in California (last time was 2003 in San Diego), home to the first ever Super Bowl.

Houston, Texas, was awarded Super Bowl 51, or Super Bowl LI.

Mar 27, 2013; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks former player Marcus Lattimore makes a reception during pro day in Columbia. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

Former South Carolina Gamecocks running back Marcus Lattimore suffered one of the more brutal leg injuries that you will see in college football, but he has made a miraculous recovery and is already back on the field working out. After initially raising concerns over whether or not he would ever walk again, he was able to work his way back to becoming a fourth-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.

Of course, Lattimore still has a good ways to go before he can return to game action, but he is already impressing the 49ers with his physical prior to the team’s rookie minicamp.

“Everything looks good structurally with all the guys that we drafted,” 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh said, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. “The ACL looks really good for Marcus. We have to take a step back in terms of some of the cutting because we want that inside of the knee, the lateral side of the knee, to heal fully.”

Because of the depth San Francisco has on their roster, they have the ability to keep Lattimore on the sideline for his entire rookie season in essentially what would be a “redshirt” season.

If that is the route the 49ers choose to go, Lattimore will be perfectly okay with that decision.

“I think that would be fine,” Lattimore said. “Whatever happens these next three months probably will determine that. I’m going to continue to keep working hard, and if I’m called upon, I feel like hopefully I’ll be ready.

“I feel like whatever’s best, I’m going to go with that. We have a lot of great guys on our team — Kendall [Hunter], Frank [Gore], Anthony Dixon, LaMichael [James]. And I know I can learn a lot from those guys.”

Lattimore certainly has the motivation and work ethic that will get him back to peak shape and when he is fully healthy he could be exactly what the 49ers need in their backfield.

On the plus side, the 49ers are still one of the top teams in the NFL and their quarterback is now getting the star treatment.

Just how popular has Kaepernick become? Well, he got to meet First Lady Michelle Obama. That is a pretty big deal.

Kaepernick shared a photo of his meeting with the First Lady on his Instagram account and he got Mrs. Obama to join in the “Kaepernicking” craze that caught on while the 49ers were deep in their run.

“I got the opportunity to meet one of the greatest women in the world, the first lady @first_Obama and even got her #Kaepernicking,” Kaepernick posted as a caption to go along with the picture.

Here is the photo Kaepernick shared on his Instagram account:

Photo via Colin Kaepernick on Instagram (@kaepernick7)

This is just the beginning for Kaepernick. He came on late in 2012 and with a full offseason to prepare as the starter we should expect big things from the young star quarterback this season.

Mar 27, 2013; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks former player Marcus Lattimore makes a reception during pro day in Columbia. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

When the San Francisco 49ers selected Marcus Lattimore in the NFL Draft a week ago, it sort of surprised people in a way that wasn’t really surprising. It was a bit shocking that the Niners took a running back as high as they did, given they have Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter, Anthony Dixon and LaMicheal James on roster. But with Gore aging and James not really being a featured back type of player, the Niners ended up making a surprising move look absolutely brilliant.

It was understood when he was drafted that Lattimore would still need more time to heal, which is why being selected by the Niners was so brilliant. With Gore and James playing, Lattimore could realistically sit out the entire 2013 season in order to heal up as much as he needs to.

While that’s not something that has been confirmed, the former South Carolina running back is expected to start the season on the non-football injury list, per CSN Bay Area’s early projections of the 49ers opening day roster.

This takes into consideration that Lattimore is expected to be placed on “non-football injury” to open training camp. If he remains on that list to open the regular season, he would not take up one of the team’s 53 roster spots.

For fans wanting to see Lattimore make an epic recovery from the nasty knee injury he suffered back in October of 2012, hearing that he won’t start opening day is a bit disappointing. But for those who know Lattimore needs more time, the news is almost music to their ears. On paper, the plan makes an mazing amount of success but it’s not guaranteed to work.

Still, it’s clear the 49ers are taking every precaution they can to ensure that Lattimore is ready when they need him and that he will have a full and fruitful NFL career.

Apr 20, 2012; Walnut, CA, USA; Lawrence Okoye (GBR) wins the discus at 218-9 (66.67m) in the 54th Mt. San Antonio College Relays at Hilmer Lodge Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

British discus thrower Lawrence Okoye is one of the most interesting players that will join the NFL as part of the 2013 rookie class. Okoye has no experience playing organized football, but he certainly has the raw physical talent to make it if he can hone in his skills and develop with proper coaching. His lack of experience caused him to go undrafted, but the San Francisco 49ers are ready to give him a chance.

Before Okoye can make an impact on the field, he will need to learn the basics. That starts with knowing how to put on the pads.

“It was quite interesting,” Okoye said via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. “They’re not as heavy as I thought.

“Luckily, when we first get to camp we don’t have to put pads on until July. Hopefully, between now and then I’ll have some practice and will be able to do it sufficiently well so I don’t embarrass myself in the locker room.”

Okoye stands at 6-foot-6 and tips the scales at 304-pounds. His 4.78-second 40-yard dash caught the attention of NFL scouts. The 49ers are prepared to give him that shot.

49ers line coach Jim Tomsula worked in NFL Europe’s developmental program and he believes Okoye has what it takes to make it. At just 21 years old, he certainly has room to grow as a player and there is no denying his potential. It is hard to see the 49ers giving up on this project anytime this season, but it will take a lot of work if Okoye wants to make an active roster.

Okoye knows the challenge ahead of him and he is prepared to take it head on.

“I’m not going to put any limits on myself,” he said. “Nobody would have predicted when I was 18 that I would be the British record holder and an Olympic finalist. I’m not going to sit here and put limits on myself, but I’m also not going to say that I’m going to kick [49ers defensive tackles] Justin Smith or Ray McDonald out of their positions and I’m going to get 20 sacks next year. Of course not. For me, when I get the 49ers it’s all about development. I’m going to develop every day.”

If he can develop in to the kind of player his physical skill set shows that he could be, the 49ers will have gotten a steal as an undrafted free agent.

Apr 20, 2012; Walnut, CA, USA; Lawrence Okoye (GBR) wins the discus at 218-9 (66.67m) in the 54th Mt. San Antonio College Relays at Hilmer Lodge Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

The 2013 NFL Draft is complete, but that does not mean a number of talented players are still available to be had. Every year, the players who were not selected in the draft will still have an opportunity to contribute and make a NFL roster thanks to the undrafted free agency process.

There have been stars all around the league that emerge from the undrafted free agent ranks and this year will be no different.

Who did the San Francisco 49ers bring in as an undrafted free agent? Here is the list (alphabetical order by last name):

• Sherman Carter, OL, Tennessee State
• Marqueis Gray, QB/TE, Minnesota
• Luke Marquardt, OL, Azusa Pacific
• Kevin McDermott, LS, UCLA
• Darryl Morris, DB, Texas State
• Lawrence Okoye, DL, London
• Patrick Omameh, G, Michigan
• Mike Purcell, DT, Wyoming

All of the players will have an uphill battle if they hope to make the 49ers roster, but you can never count these motivated players out. Remember, current NFL starters like Arian Foster, Tony Romo and Wes Welker have all emerged from the UDFA ranks.

NOTE: Lists of undrafted free agents have been put together by gathering info from multiple media sources around the Internet, including NEPatriotsDraft.com.

Apr 25, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Eric Reid (LSU) holds daughter LeiLani Reid as he is introduced by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as the number eighteen overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers during the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

The 2013 NFL Draft has come and gone, and now it’s time for some reflection. While some teams traded around to get who they want, others stood pat to see who would slide to them — and if there’s one thing to remember about this draft it’s players that slid around the rounds. But now that the draft is behind us, the all important grading phase has begun, so lets take a look at how the San Francisco 49ers did in this year’s NFL Draft.

Draft Picks

• (18) Eric Reid, db, LSU
• (40) Cornellius Carradine, de, Florida State
• (55) Vance McDonald, te, Rice
• (88) Corey Lemonier, de, Auburn
• (128) Quinton Patton, wr, Louisiana Tech
• (131) Marcus Lattimore, rb, South Carolina
• (157) Quinton Dial, dt, Alabama
• (180) Nick Moody, lb, Florida State
• (237) B.J. Daniels, qb, South Florida
• (246) Carter Bykowski, ot, Iowa State
• (252) Marcus Cooper, db, Rutgers.

Best Pick: Tank Carradine, DE/Florida State

Jeeze, I wish the Niners would have given me more to chose from. Of all the picks the Niners made, it’s tough to pick who the best was but when it comes down to it, Tanka Carradine sticks out. If not for an ACL injury late in the Seminoles season, Carradine would have gone in the first round. He slipped to the second and the Niners got a massive steal.

Worst Pick: B.J. Daniels, QB/USF

This is one pick that clearly was made because the Niners could. They don’t need another quarterback, there were better ones out there but the Niners picked Daniels. Obviously, Harbaugh earned the ability to pick whatever quarterback he wants but this is just excessive.

Analysis: I’m under the impression that San Francisco pieced together the best draft out of anyone this year. They recognize that money doesn’t grow on trees and that they will lose guys like Justin Smith the way they lost Dashon Goldson. San Francisco dunked it’s bucket into the fountain of youth and came away with the team of the future. WHen the veterans leave, San Francisco will have more than enough capable guys to step up and that’s why this was such a brilliant draft.

2013 Draft Grade: A+

Jan 7, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Quinton Dial (90) prior to the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the 2013 BCS Championship game at Sun Life Stadium. Alabama won 42-14. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Quiton Dial is headed to perhaps the best team in the NFL, as the San Francisco 49ers added to their already incredible draft by selecting the Alabama Crimson Tide defensive end in Saturday’s fifth round. Dial made a name for himself in Nick Saban’s epic Crimson Tide defense in 2012 and helped Alabama win back-to-back NCAA National Championships.

To some, he’s most recently known for his blind-side helmet-to-helmet hit on Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, but that’s the exact kind of physical presence Jim Harbaugh loves on his defense. Patrick Willis isn’t a mean guy, but he will knock your head, socks and limbs off in a game if you get in his way. That’s the way the Niners play defense and that’s the way Quinton Dial plays the game.

He’s got work to do before he stands out in the NFL, but the real story here isn’t that Dial was drafted, it’s that he’s joining an epic draft being crafted right now by Trent Baalke and Jim Harbaugh. Armed with more than enough picks to trade up, the Niners have pretty much stayed put, moving up only slightly and have put together a draft that includes prospects like Eric Reid, Marcus Lattimore, Tank Carradine and now Quinton Dial.

The Niners are going to be strapped for cash soon when it comes to their veterans like Justin Smith, and most will leave the way Dashon Goldson did. But the 49ers are putting together a proverbial who’s who of college football stars and it’s looking like it will translate nicely in the NFL and give the Niners a smooth transition between this current team and the one of the future.

Aug 30, 2012; Nashville, TN, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks running back Marcus Lattimore (21) runs with the ball against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

Jim Harbuagh is a crazy man but he apparently knows what he’s doing. Continuing a trend from last season where the head coach drafted running back LaMichael James out of Oregon, the San Francisco 49ers selected South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore with the 131st overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Lattimore’s selection by the 49ers is both puzzling, yet makes complete sense at the same time. The story on Lattimore is that he could have been a first round draft pick had he knot torn his knee to shreds back in October of 2012. Since then it’s been a mystery as to whether or not he’d ever come close to being the same guy he once was with the Gamecocks.

But Lattimore showed impressive signs of recovery in the offseason and he fits into a system in San Francisco that will allow him to take a back seat, get completely healed and learn the ropes from Frank Gore. Lattimore isn’t going to start the season for the Niners, as no rookie usually does, but he’s welcomed there and there’s no pressure for immediate success meaning he can get completely healed so the 49ers can get the most out of him.

Speaking of Frank Gore, the Niners running back isn’t getting any younger and his career is in it’s twilight with San Francisco. Still, Gore is a powerful runner who has at least another year left in him and it will be a year spent teaching Lattimore how to take over for him when he’s gone.

The bottom line on Lattimore is that he’s a work in progress, but thanks to medical science and freaks like Adrian Peterson, a knee injury isn’t as career altering as it used to be. The fact that Lattimore has time to sit on the bench and both rest and learn from a Super Bowl contender means the 49ers are merely being blessed with more riches than they’ll ever need and they look like a team who will be goo for a long time to come.

Feb 25, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Louisiana State Tigers defensive lineman Barkevious Mingo (33), and Bennie Logan (29), and Sam Montgomery (34) pose for a photo after finishing their workouts during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The LSU Tigers had an unbelievable amount of underclassmen talent bolt for the 2013 NFL Draft and it looks like the players decisions to leave early have paid off. LSU had two players selected in the first-round , one player in the second-round and three players drafted in the third-round. The most interesting part of the six LSU draftees? All of the players were from the defensive side of the ball.

With the six defenders going in the first three rounds of the draft, LSU set a record.

LSU had 6 defensive players drafted, the most by any school in the 1st 3 rounds in a single draft.

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 27, 2013

Who were the six players selected from the Tigers defensive unit? Here is the list:

• Barkevious Mingo — Cleveland Browns — First-Round
• Eric Reid — San Francisco 49ers — First-Round
• Kevin Minter — Arizona Cardinals — Second-Round
• Tyrann Mathieu — Arizona Cardinals — Third-Round
• Bennie Logan — Philadelphia Eagles — Third-Round
• Sam Montgomery — Houston Texans — Third-Round

If that wasn’t enough talent to send to the NFL, LSU has two additional defensive players that are draftable talents — CB Tharold Simon and DE LaVar Edwards — along with a number of offensive players including offensive tackle Chris Faulk and running backs Spencer Ware and Michael Ford who have yet to be selected.

It sure looks like attending LSU worked out for these young men.

Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; A helmet for the San Francisco 49ers on the sideline before Super Bowl XLVII against the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The trades came fast but slowed in the middle of the first round. That was until the Dallas Cowboys got a say in that and traded back in the draft with the San Francisco 49ers who have been looking to trade up for weeks now. It was almost a matter of when not if the Niners would trade up and we now have an answer for those questions.

Dallas was hoping that Kenny Vaccaro from Texas or Sheldon Richardson from Missouri would fall to them at No. 18 overall but that didn’t happen. When it didn’t happen the Cowboys knew they needed to get out of the pick they were in and did so by partnering with the Niners.

It’s not like the 49ers forced this trade, they had more than enough picks to move up in the draft but it’s who they moved up to get that has some raising an eyebrow. The Niners picked Eric Reid with the 18th overall pick, which was someone they might have been able to get later in the 20s. But Jim Harbaugh doesn’t take any chances and got the guy he wanted to replace Dashon Goldson who is now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Now that Dallas has traded down, they pick up the Niners 31st overall pick and he 74th pick in the draft as well. Dallas has needs but they are apparently ones they think they can fill later in the draft. Don’t be at all surprised to see the Cowboys trade the 31st pick to a team looking to grab Geno Smith or any of the other quarterbacks expected to go fast on Day 2 of the draft.

Dec 31, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; LSU Tigers safety Craig Loston (6) celebrates with safety Eric Reid (1) after a fumble recovery in the first half against the Clemson Tigers during the Chick-fil-A Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco 49ers were hoping to trade up in the 2013 NFL Draft to select a difference making defensive player and they did just that when they swapped places with the Dallas Cowboys to jump up and select Eric Reid from LSU.

Reid was considered a fringe first-round pick, but the 49ers thought highly of him and wanted to make sure they got their guy.

For Dallas, they are able to trade back and accumulate more picks which they hope will reload their roster.

Here are the current draft results:

1. Kansas City Chiefs — Eric Fisher, offensive tackle, Central Michigan
2.  Jacksonville Jaguars — Luke Joeckel, offensive tackle, Texas A&M
3. Miami Dolphins (via Oakland Raiders) — Dion Jordan, Outside Linebacker, Oregon
4. Philadelphia Eagles —  Lane Johnson, offensive tackle, Oklahoma
5. Detroit Lions — Ezekiel Ansah, defensive end, BYU
6.  Cleveland Browns — Barkevious Mingo, outside linebacker, LSU
7. Arizona Cardinals — Jonathan Cooper, guard, North Carolina
8. St. Louis Rams (from Buffalo Bills) —  Tavon Austin, wide receiver, West Virginia
9. New York Jets —  Dee Milliner, cornerback, Alabama
10. Tennessee Titans —  Chance Warmack, guard, Alabama
11. San Diego Chargers — DJ Fluker, offensive tackle, Alabama
12. Oakland Raiders (from Miami Dolphins) — DJ Hayden, cornerback, Houston
13. New York Jets (from Tampa Bay Buccaneers) — Sheldon Richardson, defensive tackle, Missouri
14. Carolina Panthers —  Star Lotulelei, defensive tackle, Utah
15. New Orleans Saints — Kenny Vaccaro, safety, Texas
16. Buffalo Bills (from St. Louis Rams) —  EJ Manuel, quarterback, Florida State
17. Pittsburgh Steelers — Jarvis Jones, linebacker, Georgia
18. San Francisco 49ers (from Dallas Cowboys) — Eric Reid, safety, LSU

The draft is always a treat for NFL fans, so be sure that you tune in and see who the newest players to rock your favorite teams uniforms will be, and stay tuned to FanSided.com throughout the draft for the latest news, rumors and analysis of every pick.

Jan 7, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide nose guard Jesse Williams (54) prior to the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the 2013 BCS Championship game at Sun Life Stadium. Alabama won 42-14. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

This pick was made by Josh Hill of Fansided.com

The San Francisco 49ers select Jesse Williams out of Alabama.

Here is how the draft currently stands:

Jim Harbaugh loves his defensive players and he likes them raw and mean. Jesse Williams represents just about everything Harbaugh wants, as he’s big, tough, comes from the best pro football factory in the country and has incredible upside.

Williams is a guy who clearly won’t see a heavy amount of playing time in 2013, but no Niners rookies are simply handed jobs in the Harbaugh era. While the Crimson Tide product will play sparingly in 2013, he’ll learn the ropes and be able to step right in and fill the shoes of Justin Smith when his contract runs out.

But be careful here, as much like the Atlanta Falcons are poised to do, the Niners have more than enough picks to move up in the first round and snipe a top defensive prospect in the middle of the round. There have been reports of San Francisco eyeing this very strategy, but don’t take that as a slight against Williams.

Rookies are going to be wildly important to the Niners success moving forward, as they’ll soon be strapped for cash and the more rookies they have to insert into roles after they’ve gained experience, the better.

Here is how the draft currently stands:

1. Kansas City Chiefs — Eric Fisher, offensive tackle, Central Michigan
2. Jacksonville Jaguars — Dion Jordan, defensive end, Oregon
3. Oakland Raiders — Sharrif Floyd, defensive tackle, Florida
4. Philadelphia Eagles — Luke Joeckel, offensive tackle, Texas A&M
5. Detroit Lions — Ezekiel Ansah, defensive end, BYU
6. Cleveland Browns — Dee Milliner, cornerback, Alabama
7. Arizona Cardinals — Lane Johnson, offensive tackle, Oklahoma
8. Buffalo Bills —  Chance Warmack, guard, Alabama
9. New York Jets — Jarvis Jones, linebacker, Georgia
10. Tennessee Titans — Jonathan Cooper, guard, North Carolina
11. San Diego Chargers —  Star Lotulelei, defensive tackle, Utah
12. Miami Dolphins —  Xavier Rhodes, cornerback, Florida State
13. New York Jets (via Tampa Bay) — Tavon Austin, wide receiver, West Virginia
14. Carolina Panthers — Sheldon Richardson, defensive tackle, Missouri
15. New Orleans Saints — Barkevious Mingo, defensive end, LSU
16. St. Louis Rams — Cordarrelle Patterson, wide receiver, Tennessee
17. Pittsburgh Steelers — Tyler Eifert, tight end, Notre Dame
18. Dallas Cowboys — Kenny Vaccaro, safety, Texas
19. New York Giants — Tank Carradine, defensive end, Florida State
20. Chicago Bears — Manti Te’o, linebacker, Notre Dame
21. Cincinnati Bengals — D.J. Fluker, offensive tackle, Alabama
22. St, Louis Rams (via Washington) — Eric Reid, safety, LSU
23. Minnesota Vikings — Arthur Brown, linebacker, Kansas State
24. Indianapolis Colts — Datone Jones, defensive end, UCLA
25. Minnesota Vikings (via Seattle) — Sylvester Williams, defensive tackle, North Carolina
26. Green Bay Packers — Menelik Watson, offensive tackle, Florida State
27. Houston Texans — Justin Hunter, wide receiver, Tennessee
28. Denver Broncos — Björn Werner, defensive end, Florida State
29. New England Patriots —  Markus Wheaton, wide receiver, Oregon State
30. Atlanta Falcons — D.J. Hayden, cornerback, Houston
31. San Francisco 49ers — Jesse Williams, defensive tackle, Alabama

Jan 20, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; A general view of a San Francisco 49ers helmet prior to the NFC Championship game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The 2013 NFL Draft kicks off tonight with the first-round live from Radio City Music Hall. Every team in the league is preparing to select who they think will be the next breakout stars in the league, but first they will have to use the picks in their arsenal to draft the players they want.

The San Francisco 49ers have fourteen picks to work with throughout the draft. Will they be able to use them to position the team to grab some of the draft’s top talent? It all begins tonight.

[RELATED: NFL Draft 2013: Start Times, Live Stream, TV Info, Draft Order and More]

Here is the current list of the 49ers selections heading in to the 2013 NFL Draft:

• First-round: Pick 31
• Second-round: Pick 2 (from Kansas City), Pick 29
• Third-round: Pick 12 (from Carolina), Pick 31
• Fourth-round: Pick 31, Pick 34 (comp)
• Fifth-round: Pick 24 (from Indianapolis), Pick 31
• Sixth-round: Pick 12 (from Miami)
• Seventh-round: Pick 21 (from Cincinnati), Pick 31, Pick 40 (comp), Pick 46 (comp)

The draft is always a treat for NFL fans, so be sure that you tune in and see who the newest players to rock your favorite teams uniforms will be, and stay tuned to FanSided.com throughout the draft for the latest news, rumors and analysis of every pick.

Feb 23, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; University of Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports

One of the most exciting aspects of the NFL Draft is potential trades that teams can make to move around the order. Usually, a team tries to trade back to compile picks and make it easier to choose a prospect. What is needed in that scenario is a team wanting to trade up to draft a prospect they know won’t fall to them but they feel they need. The San Francisco 49ers fall into the latter category and according to Yahoo! Sports’ Jason Cole, the Niners are looking to trade up and target Sheldon Richardson.

It increasingly sounds like SF wants a DL via trade up with Sheldon Richardson as the likely target.

— Jason Cole (@JasonColeYahoo) April 25, 2013

This isn’t breaking news, as the Niners have been looking to trade up for some time now. Even if they weren’t out loud about their intentions, the 49ers have a fat stack of picks that they don’t need and one of the only logical uses for all the picks would be to trade up. San Francisco is built to win now, and picking 31st and 34th overall does them little good. However packaging those picks to move up makes a ton of sense and it appears that’s what likely is going to happen.

While the intentions have been known for a while now, we finally have a name to attach as motivation for trading up. Next to Star Lotulelei and Sharrif Floyd, Richardson is the best defensive tackle prospect in the draft and can give the 49ers a massive advantage moving forward. Richardson isn’t expected to fall past the Carolina Panthers at 14th overall, meaning the Niners will have to trade up with a team higher than that who is comfortable with trading down.

One potential target would be the New York Jets at 13th overall. While they acquired the pick from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York may look to grab San Francisco’s late first and very early second round pick to ensure they have as many as four picks in the top 40.

Obviously there are other trade candidates, but it’s looking like the Niners will find one and pull the trigger on a trade that will end up making them even more dangerous than they were before.

Jan 31, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; A detailed view of a San Francisco 49ers helmet on a mannequin during an NFL health and safety press conference at the Ernest Morial Convention center. Super Bowl XLVII will take place between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens on February 3, 2013 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco 49ers came up just short of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl XLVII, but they remain one of the most talented teams in the entire league. With very few holes on their roster and a number of draft picks, the 49ers are reportedly looking to trade up to the early teens in this week’s 2013 NFL Draft.

Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports points out the 13th or 14th overall pick as a potential destination.

Pick No. 13 would be great for the Jets, who could once again trade back and pick up a boatload of extra picks as they begin the rebuilding process.

[RELATED: Check out the updated FanSided 2013 NFL mock draft]

There are no players directly connected to the 49ers, but it is believed that  general manager Trent Baalke would want to trade up to add a defensive lineman or defensive back. An interesting option would be Alabama’s Dee Milliner if he slid out of the top five or safety Kenny Vaccaro. At defensive line, Star Lotulelei or Sheldon Richardson could prove to be interesting options.

If the 49ers are unable to trade up, they could very well move out of the first round and let a team who is looking to come up and draft a quarterback make the pick.

Dec 9, 2012; Tampa FL, USA; An NFL logo is seen on the field after a game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL regular season is nearly five months from kickoff, but the 2013 schedule has been released and it’s always fun to talk about what team has the “most favorable” schedule, and what team doesn’t have a chance to win more than five games.

As with every sports schedule, there are games that people look forward to more than others, and this season will be no different.

Divisional ones aside, there are games that don’t come around often that have a lot of people talking, and rightfully so. There are also some games that don’t have a lot of hype, but should.

Here are ten games that every football fan needs to circle on their calendar, and, as the saying goes, get their popcorn ready for.

Jan 20, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; A general view of a San Francisco 49ers helmet prior to the NFC Championship game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL released the 2013-14 regular season schedule on Thursday exclusively on NFL.com and the NFL Network. For NFL fans, seeing the schedule for the upcoming season is like an early Christmas that drums up excitement and allows you to plan out trips to nearby stadiums to watch your favorite teams in action. Before the schedule release, we already knew the home and away opponents for each team, but now we have an exact idea of when everyone will face off.

Without further introduction, here is the regular season schedule release that you have all been waiting for.

What does the San Francisco 49ers schedule look like for this season? Here it is:

What are the match ups that you are looking forward to the most? Will you be making the trip to any home or away games? Sound off in the comments section and share your thoughts.

Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; A helmet for the San Francisco 49ers on the sideline before Super Bowl XLVII against the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco 49ers have one heck of a young quarterback in Colin Kaepernick, but they are looking in to the son of a former legend that could potentially work his way on to the roster as a back up. Reports are indicating that the son of Joe Montana, Nate, will participate in the 49ers local pro day later this week.

Because of what his father has done for the franchise, there will be a lot of eyes and attention on Montana’s work out and his status after the draft.

According to the Associated Press:

A person with knowledge of the workout says the son of Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana is set to participate in the San Francisco 49ers’ local pro day Wednesday.

Nate Montana will take part in the afternoon session for draft-eligible players at team headquarters, the person said Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the list of players hadn’t been announce

Montana certainly has the size to be an NFL quarterback at  6-foot-4, 215-pounds, but it is highly unlikely that he will get drafted after an unproductive college career that had brief stops at Pasadena City College, Notre Dame, Montana and West Virginia Wesleyan.

While Montana is expected to go undrafted, he should get a shot to make a roster as an undrafted free agent.

November 11, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tackle Anthony Davis (76) blocks St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long (91) during the fourth quarter at Candlestick Park. The 49ers and the Rams tied 24-24. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco 49ers and Anthony Davis have agreed a five-year contract extension that will keep the stud right tackle a member of the Niners through 2019. The deal is worth $37.295 million, with $17 million in guarantees.

It is just the first of many pieces that the 49ers will need to lock up for the long-term success of their franchise.

As Pro Football Talk points out:

The Davis deal could be the first piece of a much larger contract puzzle for the 49ers, especially with Iupati, receiver Michael Crabtree, and quarterback Colin Kaepernick all due to become free agents in the same year Davis would have hit the market:  2015.  Linebacker Aldon Smith will become a free agent in 2016.

As a practical matter, the 49ers need to be ready to sign their core players sooner rather than later.  After 2013, both Kaepernick and Smith will be eligible for long-term deals — and it’s safe to say both will want them.  Especially since both players were drafted in the first year of the current rookie wage scale, which in Smith’s case resulted in a far lesser contract than he would have gotten if he’d been the seventh overall pick one year earlier.

The 49ers are one of the most loaded teams in the league and this latest move ensures they will continue heading towards a Super Bowl appearance.

August 11, 2011; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (24) on the sidelines during a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Once elite cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha has gotten a second chance with a new team by signing with the San Francisco 49ers, but it’s only because of his recent past that he’s in the situation he’s in currently. It wasn’t long ago that Asomugha was the most coveted free agent on the market, but after a lousy stint with the Phildelphia Eagles, Asomugha is having to redeem himself with the Niners.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Aosmugha didn’t directly blame the Eagles for his struggles, but rather did so by extension saying that the schemes that they ran didn’t fit his skills.

“I think 49ers have a good mix, what (defensive coordinator) Vic Fangio does I think has been awesome, over the last two years from what I’ve seen,” Asomugha said. “Having a chance to do it again, definitely had to make sure the scheme was something I liked and I was able to find San Francisco with a scheme that I thought was really impressive.”

Asomugha also noted that he felt alone in Philadelphia, saying he didn’t know anybody and that he basically felt out of his element in more than just the way the Eagles were running their defense. When he signed with the Eagles, it was the first time Asomugha was going to play away from the Bay Area, as he had attended college at Cal and then went on to play for the Oakland Raiders.

“I think the contrast is I didn’t really know anyone [in Philadelphia], and it was a new area for me,” Asomugha said. “Those were probably the biggest differences. And then out here, there is that familiarity with the area and with players and coaches.”

To his credit though, Asomugha didn’t shovel all the blame onto the Eagles, and while he cryptically blamed the Eagles, he blamed himself in a more straight forward manner.

“The bottom line is I didn’t get it done out there,” Asomugha said of his performance with the Eagles. “It just didn’t work out. I have a chance to step back on the field and do it again, do it over.”

Now that he’s back home in the Bay Area, Asomugha’s story of redemption will be one of the most watched storylines in the 2013 NFL season. Due to the scheme clash everyone noted in Philly, Asomugha has sort of been given a mulligan for his anti-elite performance with the Eagles. But he doesn’t have a safety net anymore and it’s truly put up or shut up time for Asomugha.