San Francisco 49ers: 5 worst draft picks all-time

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DETROIT, MI – DECEMBER 27: A San Francisco 49ers helmet sits on a equipment box during an NFL game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on December 27, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions defeated the 49ers 32-17. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /

5. Israel Ifeanyi

There have plenty of instances in NFL history, where a team will draft a player with limited football experience but a ton of athletic ability. In 1996, the San Francisco 49ers decided to take a player with high athletic upside but not much football skill in Israel Ifeanyi out of USC.

The plan for Ifeanyi was to be the next superstar pass rusher in the NFL. With the league boasting some talented quarterbacks at the time, having someone that could get consistent pressure on the quarterback play in and play out was an absolute must.

However, Ifeanyi just did not have the football ability to succeed in the NFL. He played just three games in his one season and after that, the 49ers realized that the experiment was a complete and total failure. The good news is that they were willing to cut bait and not try to force the issue.

It served as a reminder that all the talent in the world can’t replace football ability and taking a player without much experience can be a risky move. The 49ers invest a top pick in Ifeanyi and he ended up not panning out. Those are the type of moves that lead to regime changes.

Next: 4. Mike Rumph

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