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Dwight Chapin and Tom FitzGerald of the San Francisco Chronicle put Joe Perry's career in perspective following the 49ers great's passing Monday. Perry remains the 49ers' all-time rushing king. Said Y.A. Tittle: "He was the fastest player off the ball in the history of the world. You'd take the ball from center and turn, and he was already gone through the hole. ... He was a wonderful, big-hearted guy. He was a super team player, one of the greatest players I've ever been around." Check out Perry's Hall of Fame Bio here. NFL.com has video highlights.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com passes along thoughts on Perry. Maiocco: "Perry came to the 49ers after team owner Tony Morabito personally scouted him as a player for the Alameda Naval Air Station. Perry and Morabito developed a close bond. ... Perry also received comfort from Morabito, as he went through some difficult times early in his career." Perry recounted his experiences in 2005: "I was one of the few black players in the league, so I'd get the hell kicked out of me. Wherever you went, it was the same thing. It didn't matter whether it was Los Angeles, San Francisco or anywhere. You got the N-word and all of that stuff. I'd just say, 'Bring it on.' That's what I got from Tony. He'd tell me, 'Whenever they hit you hard, just hit back harder.'"

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee sits down with 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh for thoughts on how to find quarterbacks. Harbaugh: "Watching their athletic instincts, watching them play basketball, watching them play football. Being around them. Being around them, seeing if they're fiercely competitive guys, courageous guys when they play. A lot of qualities -- just being around them -- they've got it. The ability to light up a room and people really want to follow them, a lot of qualities like that."

David White of the San Francisco Chronicle says the 49ers are leaning heavily on Harbaugh to identify their next quarterback.

Liz Mathews of 710ESPN Seattle checks in with Seahawks receiver Mike Williams for thoughts on whether players will show up at team headquarters following the ruling to end the lockout. Williams is in Florida and will not show up Tuesday. He thinks players will have time to report and collect workout bonuses should the league open for business in the coming days. Williams: "The offseason has been long enough. I think players across the league are ready to get back to the facilities and get back to building their teams and putting on shows for the fans on Sundays. We hope this thing gets figured out. In the meantime, I'll be enjoying the sunshine in either Florida and L.A. and I'll get to Seattle as soon as this is ready to go. If the lockout was over today, I would be totally fine with coming up there tomorrow and weighing in and making my money on the bonus, showing these guys that this first year wasn't really a fluke and I'm ready to come back this year and do even better."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com runs through six first-round projections for Seattle, including his own: Baylor guard Danny Watkins.

Also from Farnsworth: a look inside Paul Allen's new book as it relates to his ownership of the Seahawks. Allen says his love for basketball pulled him toward purchasing the Portland Trail Blazers, while a sense of civic duty was the driving force behind his decision to purchase the Seahawks. Allen: "Football is much more than a civic chore for me now. I’ve gotten hooked on the weeklong buildup to Sunday, to the point where I can’t tell you which I enjoy more, the Seahawks or the Blazers."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune checks in with draft analyst Rob Rang for thoughts on which running backs could make sense for Seattle by round (the team has no third-round selection). The list: Mark Ingram, Jon Baldwin, Tandon Doss, Jeremy Kerley, Anthony Allen and Kealoha Pilares.

Also from Williams: The Seahawks' troubles begin on the offensive line.

More from Williams: a chat transcript featuring Rang's thoughts on the draft. Rang: "I understand the perception that Andy Dalton is flying up the board, but I spoke to NFL scouts back in February that anticipated his dramatic ascension. I didn't grade him as a first-round pick then -- and still don't -- but he is considerably more pro-ready than some of the other options and teams are desperate for QB help."

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune explores how acquiring Charlie Whitehurst has muddied the situation at quarterback for Seattle. Boling: "If Whitehurst had been better last season, he might have taken over from Matt Hasselbeck and proven himself as the man for the future. And if he’d been worse, he wouldn’t have been effective enough to lead the Hawks to the win over St. Louis, an effort that got the Hawks in the playoffs, but also cost them more than a dozen spots in the draft -- and probably took them out of the range of landing one of the few elite prospects."

Art Thiel of Sportspress Northwest says the Seahawks should do Jake Locker a favor by not drafting him.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals need an outside pass-rusher such as Von Miller. Somers: "The Cardinals haven't had an elite outside pass-rusher since end Bertrand Berry had 14.5 sacks in 2004. That's the most-recent time the Cardinals had a player with double-digit sacks. Since then, the pass rush has been performed by committee. Ends Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell have some skills, and safety Adrian Wilson is a dangerous blitzer. But the Cardinals haven't had that one player who keeps offensive tackles and coordinators awake at night."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com checks in with scout Malik Boyd for thoughts on finding lesser-known prospects such as Michael Adams and Brandon Keith. Boyd: "Scouting, I wouldn’t call it a science. It’s very subjective. You may have seen two or three of his best days, and I may have seen him at his worst. We’ve got to try and be realistic, give him his best day in court so to speak. What can he bring to the team?"

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch does not expect the Rams to find a receiver in the first round of the draft. That might be fine, too, based on what former 49ers scout Dave Razzano said: "Back in the glory days with the Niners, I always pointed out that we completely de-emphasized the position, because we believed in quarterback and defense. Our first Super Bowl [with San Francisco], we had two free agents at receiver: Dwight Clark and Mike Wilson. It's proven over and over again that you don't need [first-round] receivers. Look at the Steelers and the Packers. They have a bunch of second-, third-, fourth-round-type guys."

D'Marco Farr of 101ESPN St. Louis says the Rams should draft for need this year. Farr: "There are some positions on this team that are so talent depleted and under-skilled that trying to compete another season with the same players would be folly. The needs of this team should far outweigh the allure of drafting purely based on talent alone."

Comments from ESPN legal analyst Lester Munson to Trey Wingo on NFL Live following Judge Susan Nelson's ruling striking down the lockout:

"In these 89 pages, Judge Nelson wrote the opinion that the players and their lawyers dreamed of a few weeks ago. She gave them everything that they need now to make the injunction stick and to end the lockout. She did not write this opinion for us at ESPN. She wrote this opinion for the judges on the higher court, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. When they read it, they are going to be very reluctant to give the stay that the owners want.

"The NFL wants everybody to think this is a labor dispute. Well, it is not any more. It is an antitrust case. Judge Nelson explained all of that. The NFL had four basic arguments. She destroyed each one of them. The owners basically went 0-for-4. Now, they are going to have to come up with something new in order to impress the 8th Circuit and try to get the lockout back in effect. I don't think they are going to be able to do it. I think the lockout may have come to an end today."

Sounds like great new for the NFL Players Association and those who want to restore the offseason without regard for the NFL's concerns in this matter.

What are the NFL's options if the 8th Circuit does not keep the lockout in place by granting the league's request for a stay? That becomes the next question if Munson's prediction comes true.

The NFL has no plans to open for business immediately following a court ruling against the lockout, but that should not stop players from reporting to work as a matter of strategy.

As noted in March, numerous NFC West players stood to collect significant sums for their participation in offseason workout programs. Those players have every reason to report for work Tuesday, just in case it helps them collect on those bonuses.

This is a fluid situation, obviously, and no one knows for certain what will happen next. It's an upset, however, if players do not show up for work following the ruling Monday.

The chart shows NFC West players with workout bonuses of at least $200,000, plus a column showing what percentage of workouts players must attend to realize the bonus. A few players on the list project as candidates for release this offseason.

Life in the NFC West and the NFL in general would change dramatically if a judge's decision to end the lockout results in free agency before the draft.

The league says it will seek from the courts a stay keeping the lockout in place pending an appeal. In the meantime, the decision produces more questions than answers:

• How quickly might there be a ruling on a stay?
• What happens before there's a ruling on a stay?
• What happens if a stay is denied?
• Is the league right when it says putting in place rules for free agency could open itself to additional antitrust claims?

We're accustomed to seeking direction from the league on such matters, but the with attorneys and the courts involved, answers could come elsewhere. More to come.

Earlier: Would the lockout end immediately?

Update: League executive Greg Aiello tells Andrew Brandt the league will wait for a response on its stay request before opening the league for business.

Von Miller, Robert Quinn, J.J. Watt and Mark Ingram landed in the NFC West thanks to my shrewd maneuvering in ESPN.com's Blog Network mock draft for 2011.

I'm breaking out my selections on a team-by-team basis, with explanations that hopefully will invite your points and counterpoints. Running back Mark Ingram unexpectedly landed with Seattle at No. 25, while I sheepishly sent J.J. Watt to St. Louis at No. 14 and cautiously sent Robert Quinn to San Francisco at No. 7.

Let's conclude in reverse order, with the Arizona Cardinals at No. 5.

The selection: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M

Off the board: Quarterbacks Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert; defensive lineman Marcell Dareus; and cornerback Patrick Peterson.

The thinking: Whew, finally a selection that didn't require 300 words of disclaimers, apologies and excuse-making. Miller heads into the draft as the most acclaimed pass-rusher available and a player the Cardinals could plug into their lineup quickly. Value, need and availability lined up better for this selection, at least based on available scouting reports, than they did for previously selections made for NFC West teams. That was natural given how early the Cardinals are selecting this year. Quarterback remains the team's No. 1 need, but there's no consensus this draft features even one true franchise quarterback, let alone enough for the Cardinals to find one after subtracting Newton and Gabbert from the equation. It's a big upset if the Cardinals pass on Miller to take anything other than a quarterback. Their need for outside pass-rush help appears greater than their needs beyond quarterback.

Odds of this happening: Decent shot. I'm at least as curious about whether Miller will be available at No. 5 than whether the Cardinals would select him there.

Von Miller, Robert Quinn, J.J. Watt and Mark Ingram landed in the NFC West thanks to my shrewd maneuvering in ESPN.com's Blog Network mock draft for 2011.

I'm breaking out my selections on a team-by-team basis, with explanations that hopefully will invite your points and counterpoints. Running back Mark Ingram unexpectedly landed with Seattle at No. 25, while I somewhat sheepishly sent J.J. Watt to St. Louis at No. 14.

Let's continue in reverse order, with the San Francisco 49ers at No. 7.

The selection: Robert Quinn, OLB, North Carolina

Off the board: Quarterbacks Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert; defensive lineman Marcell Dareus; cornerbacks Patrick Peterson; outside linebacker Von Miller; and receiver A.J. Green.

The thinking: This was one of those high-risk, high-reward selections easier to make in a mock draft than when your career as general manager is riding on the outcome. Quinn would give 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio a pass-rushing prospect to build around. Fangio sought a similar building block in Houston when the Texans used the 27th choice of the 2004 draft for Jason Babin, a player Fangio hoped would project in the Kevin Greene mold. Babin didn't do much before earning Pro Bowl status with Tennessee last season. As for Quinn, he qualifies as a potentially one-dimensional player with medical concerns stemming from the benign brain tumor doctors discovered in 2007. But his raw pass-rush potential appeals. There were other legitimate options and safer ones available when I made this selection. Cornerback Prince Amukamara was one, but teams tend to value pass-rush production over coverage skills in the secondary. Some 49ers fans have worried their team won't feel great about any of the prospects available at No. 7. I had that feeling to an extent while making this selection, but only because scouting reports on Miller and Peterson made them sound like superior options, if available. Check back in three years to see if those reports were accurate.

Odds of this happening: Decent shot. This one feels better than the previous NFC West selections, but it should. There were only six players off the board this time.

Von Miller, Robert Quinn, J.J. Watt and Mark Ingram landed in the NFC West thanks to my shrewd maneuvering in ESPN.com's Blog Network mock draft for 2011.

I'm breaking out my selections on a team-by-team basis, with explanations that hopefully will invite your points and counterpoints. Running back Mark Ingram unexpectedly landed with Seattle at No. 25.

Let's continue in reverse order, with the St. Louis Rams at No. 14.

The selection: J.J. Watt, DL, Wisconsin

Off the board: Quarterbacks Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert and Andy Dalton; defensive linemen Marcell Dareus, Nick Fairley, Aldon Smith; cornerbacks Patrick Peterson and Prince Amukamara; outside linebackers Von Miller and Robert Quinn; receivers A.J. Green and Julio Jones; and offensive lineman Tyron Smith.

The thinking: The more I consider rampant comparisons between Watt and Adam Carriker, the less solid this selection seems to be on the surface. Carriker found himself caught between positions and ultimately caught between coaching staffs after the Rams made him the 13th choice of the 2007 draft. He played 31 of 32 games, starting 25, in his only two seasons with the Rams. He also needed shoulder surgery last offseason, complicating efforts to earn a spot in the Rams' rotation. Carriker's versatility was seen as an asset when he was coming out of college. The Rams' experience with him changes the outlook for Watt. It's fair to wonder whether Watt would fit well enough into any one position to maximize his value. Could he play primarily inside, adding to the rotation at defensive tackle? Would he possess the quickness and pass-rush ability to play enough on the perimeter? Would he even remotely fit the physical mold of the defensive linemen Steve Spagnuolo's teams have drafted early in the past -- guys such as Brodrick Bunkley, Mike Patterson, Jerome McDougle, Corey Simon, Jay Alford and Derrick Burgess? Those are valid questions. Watt could fit more naturally in a 3-4 scheme. The way this mock draft unfolded, however, Watt projected as a good value selection at a position where the Rams are seeking young reinforcements. The top two receivers weren't available. This was too early, it seemed, to fill needs at outside linebacker. Drafting for the offensive line seemed like a luxury for a team already set at both tackle spots. It's arguably a year early to spend such a high selection on a running back, although Ingram was available when I made this selection. Watt became the choice by default -- a big, versatile defensive lineman adding depth where coach Spagnuolo values it the most.

Odds of this happening: Outside shot. I spent the last paragraph all but apologizing for the selection. I do think there's a good chance the Rams will select a defensive lineman, however.

Von Miller, Robert Quinn, J.J. Watt and Mark Ingram landed in the NFC West thanks to my shrewd maneuvering in ESPN.com's Blog Network mock draft for 2011.

I'll break out my selections on a team-by-team basis, with explanations that hopefully will invite your points and counterpoints.

Let's begin in reverse order, with the Seattle Seahawks at No. 25.

The selection: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

Off the board: quarterbacks Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert and Andy Dalton; defensive linemen Marcell Dareus, Nick Fairley, Aldon Smith, J.J. Watt, Ryan Kerrigan, Da'Quan Bowers, Cameron Jordan, Justin Houston, Muhammad Wilkerson, Corey Liuget and Adrian Clayborn; cornerbacks Patrick Peterson, Prince Amukamara and Jimmy Smith; outside linebackers Von Miller and Robert Quinn; receivers A.J. Green and Julio Jones; and offensive linemen Tyron Smith, Mike Pouncey and Anthony Castonzo.

The thinking: This was a value selection all the way. Seattle has said it wants to trade down from the 25th spot, and that makes sense given how badly general manager John Schneider wants to add young prospects, and lots of them. We could not trade selections in this mock, however. The Seahawks would ideally use this selection for an offensive or defensive lineman if they weren't sold on Jake Locker or any of the other available quarterbacks. I didn't see any highly rated defensive linemen available at No. 25 in this mock (11 were off the board). Taking an offensive lineman still had some appeal, but with Russell Okung entrenched at left tackle and Max Unger projecting at center, Seattle would essentially be selecting a right tackle or guard if it went that route. That could make sense, but I figured Ingram would be the highest-rated player remaining. He would be the first running back off the board. The Seahawks' need for a running back is not immediate, but neither is the team set at the position. Marshawn Lynch is entering the final year of his contract. In 2000, the Seahawks used a first-round choice for Shaun Alexander just as Ricky Watters was entering the final year of his deal. The team sought to acquire a quarterback one year later, landing Matt Hasselbeck from Green Bay.

Odds of this happening: Slim. The Seahawks would be more likely trade back or select a lineman in this spot, in my view. I'm not convinced so many defensive linemen will be off the board at this point. I'm also curious to know how tempted Seattle might be to add a right tackle or guard at this point in the draft. The San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Rams have targeted bookend tackles in recent drafts.

NFC West teams have drafted 22 defensive ends since 2002, a number smaller than I would have anticipated.

An even smaller number -- two! -- start for the teams that drafted them.

One, Antonio Smith, starts for another team.

A few notes relating to this latest item in a series examining various positions:

• Kentwan Balmer appears as a defensive end because the San Francisco 49ers drafted him to play that position. Balmer played defensive tackle in college.
• Darnell Dockett does not appear as a defensive end because the Arizona Cardinals drafted him to play defensive tackle. Yes, Dockett plays defensive end in the Cardinals' current scheme, but the NFL lists him as a tackle for Pro Bowl voting and he is not a typical defensive end even by 3-4 standards.
• Of the 22, only Chris Long and Calais Campbell are starting for their original teams. Smith is starting for the Houston Texans.
• Six of the eight most highly drafted ends since 2002 came from teams most recently affiliated with the ACC.
• Long was the only player on the list drafted before the 28th overall choice.
• Will Davis and Parys Haralson were listed as defensive ends coming out of college, but both projected as outside linebackers. That is why they do not appear below. Cody Brown also projects at linebacker.
• I've used the term "not active" loosely in the charts to describe players who weren't on active rosters during the regular season recently.

Now, on to the charts. I've broken them up with italicized comments representing what NFL teams might have been thinking at corresponding stages of these drafts.

Playing it safe and hoping those NFL bloodlines pay off ...


Defensive linemen are at a premium, and we might find out why ...


The pure pass-rushers are gone by now ...


If these guys don't pan out, it'll be a while before we take another third-round end ...


It's an upset if we find a starter at this point ...


Time to fill out the practice squad, but you never know ...

The Seattle Seahawks tried to acquire receiver Brandon Marshall from the Denver Broncos last offseason.

The price wound up being higher than expected, and the Seahawks wisely showed restraint. The latest off-field drama surrounding Marshall -- his recent stabbing, allegedly by his wife -- validates Seattle's decision to bow out of the running.

Signing Marshall to an offer sheet and acquiring him that way would have required parting with the sixth choice in the 2010 draft, a price far too high given the risks associated with Marshall. Matching the price ultimately paid by the Miami Dolphins also would have carried long-term negative ramifications for Seattle.

The initial sting associated with losing Marshall to the Dolphins went away more quickly than anticipated.

Mike Williams emerged as a far less expensive, lower-risk alternative. He did not produce as much as Marshall produced in 2010, but his best games lined up favorably with Marshall's best games. Both are big, physically dominant receivers at their best.

The charts show each receiver's four highest single-game receiving yardage totals, followed by their season stats.

Marshall and Williams finished with similar yards-per-catch and touchdown numbers. Injuries slowed both players in 2010. Marshall missed two games after suffering a hamstring injury. He also underwent a second hip surgery before last season. Williams missed two games and almost all of a third with a foot injury.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee looks at 12 players that could make sense for the 49ers with their 12 choices in the upcoming draft. Colin Kaepernick was the choice in the second round. Barrows: "My guess is that Jim Harbaugh thinks Kaepernick has the biggest upside of the remaining quarterbacks and that he'd be the ideal player to mentor and mold. It's been written that Kaepernick is a poor fit for the West Coast because of his long wind up. But Harbaugh isn't running a 'pure' West Coast like Bill Walsh used to run and he's not running a shotgun-heavy system like they do in Philadelphia and Green Bay. That is, a hitch in the delivery won't be as big a deal here as it might be elsewhere." Kaepernick's style defies convention. He's part runner, part passer and more intriguing than the typical quarterback prospect.

Also from Barrows: a list showing 25 of the 27 college prospects to visit the 49ers this offseason.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says it's clear Harbaugh will promote competition among players.

Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says Harbaugh's history as a quarterback will not make the 49ers a pass-happy team under him. Branch: "In his four years at Stanford, the Cardinal ran on 58.9 percent of their offensive plays, ranking second behind Oregon (61.0) among Pac-10 teams during his tenure. Harbaugh, of course, is heralded for his work with quarterbacks. But check out how he works his running backs. His first tailback, USD's 220-pound Evan Harney, ranked third in Division I-AA in carries per game (27.5) in 2004. His best running back, Stanford's 235-pound Toby Gerhart, led Division I with 26.4 carries per game in 2009."

David White of the San Francisco Chronicle assesses quarterback contingencies for the 49ers. White: "Some NFL draft experts think as many as five quarterbacks could go in the first round, which would leave the 49ers with crumbs if they wait until Round 2. So yeah, the timing of all this is kind of a big deal."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune sends Illinois defensive tackle Corey Liuget to the Seahawks with the 25th overall choice in a mock draft. Williams: "Gives Seattle depth and insurance up front in case Brandon Mebane leaves in free agency." Jimmy Smith, Gabe Carimi, Danny Watkins, Marvin Austin, Phil Taylor, Aaron Williams and Derek Sherrod were his choices, respectively, beginning with the 26th selection.

Also from Williams: Draft analyst Rob Rang thinks Christian Ponder could make sense for Seattle if the Seahawks decide to use the 25th choice for a quarterback. Rang: "Entered his senior season ranked with Jake Locker as the top senior QBs, but struggled through injuries. Threw well at the Senior Bowl and combine and is considered by some the most pro-ready QB in the draft."

ESPN's John Clayton tells 710ESPN Seattle not to expect Carson Palmer in a Seahawks uniform for 2011. Clayton: "If you know Mike Brown, and most people who've been around this league for a long time know Mike Brown from the Bengals, he's not going to cut and he's not going to trade Carson Palmer. Carson Palmer is not an option for any team, even if (it) means sitting out for the season and taking a one-year sabbatical. He is not going to be available."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic sizes up the Cardinals' primary needs and says this about the quarterback situation heading into the draft: "Poor play at this position wasn't the only reason for last year's 5-11 record, but it was the major one. Derek Anderson won't return, and John Skelton, a rookie last year, isn't ready to start. Many mock drafts have the Cardinals taking Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert with the fifth overall pick, but look for them instead to address the position via free agency or trade. The guess here is they use their first-round pick on a player they think can help immediately."

Also from Somers: The NFL lockout has prevented the Cardinals from addressing issues that arose during the 2010 season.

Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic offers thoughts on how Ray Horton's long, braided hair affects perceptions of him as an NFL assistant coach.

Tony Softli of 101ESPN St. Louis does not think the Rams are in position to trade up for a shot at receiver Julio Jones. Softli: "They have too many needs and would have to give up too much. The Redskins can sit and let Jones fall to them, and if he slips past Cleveland Browns at No. 6 the Titans at No. 8 are their only threat. The teams that can blow this draft up on the first day are the New England Patriots. With six picks in the first three rounds and three in the top 33 players, they have the power to jump up and down the draft as if they were playing checkers, and crowning themselves king several times. Despite having the threat to do damage with trades, I think they will sit and pick and add some key pieces to an already championship based foundation at tackle, guard, running back or outside linebacker."

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch runs through the 19 players St. Louis has selected in the first round since the Rams arrived for the 1995 season. The team gets an A-minus grade for selecting Kevin Carter. Coats: "Six seasons with the Rams, all as starter, in 14-year career. Recorded league-high 17 sacks in 1999. Pro Bowler in '99 and 2002."

Even the great Jerry Rice had problems with dropped passes while transitioning to the NFL from college.

I had forgotten, also, that Rice suffered a string of drops while transitioning from Joe Montana to Steve Young as his full-time quarterback with the San Francisco 49ers.

Rice worked through those issues, of course, on his way to becoming arguably the greatest player in NFL history.

The perspective came in handy when running across Rice's analysis of A.J. Green and Julio Jones, the two highest-rated receivers in the 2011 NFL draft. Jones is seen more as a likely Top 10 or Top 15 prospect -- and a potential candidate for the St. Louis Rams with the 14th overall choice.

Rice, speaking recently on Sirius radio, pointed to Green's superior hands in explaining why he would favor the Georgia receiver to Jones, his Alabama counterpart. Rice's full comments, when asked which college wideout he would select first between the two:

"I would have to say A.J. Green because the guy, he makes plays. He makes plays and he doesn’t drop the ball as much and that’s part of Jones, what he’s going to have to work on. Julio Jones, he’s going to have to work on catching the football. So, maybe right now he’s that young pup right now, but once you get to that level, that next level, teams are not going to afford to let you drop footballs.

"That was something that Bill Walsh would always preach: 'If you drop footballs you’re not going to be with the San Francisco 49ers.' So, he’s very talented, but I think that phase of the game he’s going to have to work on. But Green right now, he gets the thumbs up right here."

I checked to see whether ESPN Stats & Information had logged dropped passes for college receivers this season. There were numbers for Jones because he played for a Top 25 program. There were no numbers for Green.

The chart compares Jones' numbers for targets, receptions and dropped passes against numbers for leading receivers in the NFC West this past season. The chart shows percentage of targets resulting in dropped passes, without knowing the quality of those targets. I've sorted the chart by most receptions per dropped pass.

Jones had more drops than any receiver on the list and the second-highest drop percentage, but his catch-to-drop ratio wasn't out of line.

Baron from Sacramento wonders whether the San Francisco 49ers would really pass on quarterback Blaine Gabbert at No. 7 if he were available. Baron would rather see the team select Jimmy Smith or Jake Locker after trading down than see them select receiver Julio Jones or the second-best cornerback.

Mike Sando: Trent Baalke, the 49ers' general manager, asks himself a question every time he considers paying a high price for a quarterback. That question is, "Can we win a championship with this guy?" I suspect the 49ers would see enough potential in Gabbert to select him, particularly when lining up the value with their obvious need at the position.

I'll pass along the thoughts Baalke shared on the top quarterbacks in this draft during a news conference Wednesday:

• On Cam Newton: "From a spread offense, has a lot of physical talent. He has arm strength, he has athleticism, he has Ben Roethlisberger-type stature in the pocket. He is a piece of clay that needs to be molded. The mental part of the game, because of the system he is in, No. 1, and the fact that he hasn't played at that level for a long time, that is going to be a work in progress. He should get it."
[+] Enlarge
Mark J. Rebilas/US PresswireThe 49ers might have a hard time passing on Blaine Gabbert, 11, if he's available when they select in the first round.
• On Gabbert: "He comes from a spread-style system as well. Has rare passing talent. Very good arm strength, accuracy, but he has been in a spread system and he is coming out early. He is another junior that has decided to come out early."
• On Locker: "More of a pro-style quarterback in the system, but has functioned much better outside the pocket, running, scrambling throughout his career, making plays like that than he has from actually working inside the pocket. So there is going to be an adjustment for him to get comfortable in the pocket."
• On Ryan Mallett: "He might have the best arm talent in the draft. More of a pocket passer. He has admittedly said he isn't going to win any 40-yard dash or any relay race, but a pure pocket passer that probably mentally, along with Locker, has played in this system more closely related to the pro game."

Baalke wasn't going to tell us how the 49ers valued these quarterbacks, but reading between the lines, I could see the team valuing Gabbert based on that "rare passing talent" and the athleticism coach Jim Harbaugh likes in his quarterbacks. The book on Gabbert says he's smart, works hard and moves well. The 49ers value those traits in combination.

Conventional wisdom says Gabbert will not be available at No. 7. The truth is that we do not know how teams will value him.

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Jeremy from Everett, Wash., wonders what the Seattle Seahawks could get in return for the 25th overall choice in the draft. Is there any way the team could get a 2012 first-round choice from a team that wanted to select a quarterback with Seattle's choice?

Mike Sando: Precedent says there's a chance. In 2005, the Washington Redskins acquired the 25th pick from Denver so they could select quarterback Jason Campbell. The Broncos received a 2005 third-rounder (76th overall), plus first- and fourth-round choices the following year.

I suspect Seattle would like to make a deal along those lines. The team has no third-rounder this year. Going without a first-rounder this year would hurt, but there could be ways around that as well. In 2006, the Pittsburgh Steelers sent the 32nd, 96th and 129th choices to the New York Giants for the 25th overall choice. That type of deal would definitely appeal to Seattle this year.

Last year, the draft was about glitz and excitement for Seattle. The team had a new head coach, plus two high first-round choices. This year, the draft is more likely about rolling up sleeves and acknowledging there's a lot of dirty work remaining before Seattle can become a legitimate contending team.

I see general manager John Schneider trying to amass more picks in an effort to rebuild with younger players.

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Bill from Virginia Beach, Va., is on deployment for the Navy and seeking some information on his San Francisco 49ers. He thinks defensive coordinator Vic Fangio must be "licking his chops" over the defensive prospects the team might consider with the seventh overall choice. He wonders whether I would select LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson or Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller if given the choice.

Mike Sando: I would lean toward the pass-rusher when both are highly rated. Teams can cover for deficiencies in their secondary more easily than they can manufacture a pass rush. Plus, if you have the pass rush, the guys in the secondary will have an easier time.

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Jesper from Denmark wonders what the St. Louis Rams would do with the 14th overall choice if Aldon Smith, Corey Liuget, Nick Fairley and the top two receivers unavailable. He sees Da'Quan Bowers as too much of a risk and sees two other defensive linemen, Cam Jordan and J.J. Watt, as better suited for 3-4 defenses.

Mike Sando: The scouting reports on Watt makes him sound like a welcome addition to any defensive front. I'd probably take him because he could play multiple positions while instantly upgrading the depth and versatility of the defensive front.

I'll have more thoughts on this Monday. It's something I've considered recently as part of a mock draft we're putting together.

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Brent from Phoenix was shocked to see Peter King sending receiver A.J. Green to the Arizona Cardinals in a mock draft recently. He thinks such a move would provide great insurance for losing Larry Fitzgerald, but without a good quarterback, why would it matter? Brent wonders whether King is trying to be clever or if anyone else has considered such a possibility.

Mike Sando: Peter is not alone on this one. I had that thought in the back of my mind when answering questions about the Cardinals in a mailbag last month. A related question led off a chat session this month.

The Cardinals should select Green if he is clearly the best prospect available to them. Otherwise, they should consider addressing quarterback or upgrading their defensive front seven, specifically the pass-rush.

Selecting Green that early might push Fitzgerald out the door from a resources standpoint. Green would be commanding millions in guarantees. The team would have a hard time paying huge money to two wide receivers.

Anquan Boldin became expendable largely because the Cardinals paid so much for Fitzgerald. But if Green is clearly the best talent available and the Cardinals aren't all that optimistic about keeping Fitzgerald, anyway, selecting Green would make more sense.

I don't think that is the most likely scenario, but neither would I rule it out.

The San Francisco 49ers have gone for quality over quantity in trying to build a big, powerful offensive line.

The team has drafted seven offensive linemen since 2005, one below the NFL average. But the 49ers selected a league-high three of the seven in the first round and a league-high five of them in the first two rounds.

That jumped out right away when sizing up NFC West offensive linemen from the 2005-2010 draft classes for the latest "adventures in drafting" installment.

The Arizona Cardinals have taken a different approach, using a division-low one first-round selection for the offensive line since 2005. Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Oakland, San Diego, Tennessee, Dallas, Minnesota and the New York Giants have selected no first-round offensive linemen during that span.

The charts break out NFC West selections by general draft position, with a column showing how many starts each has made for his original team. I am using the term "not active" loosely to describe players who haven't been on rosters during the regular season recently.

Italics reveal what teams might have been thinking as they entered various stages of the draft.

We should find 10-year starters with Pro Bowl potential, most often at tackle ...

Every offensive lineman selected among the top 50 or so choices should contribute and hopefully start ...

The most athletic prospects are gone by now, but tough guys still have value ...

These guys have question marks, obvious limitations or both, but we'll still get some starts from them ...

Anyone seen the Seahawks or 49ers lately?

What are our numbers on the line again? Let's get another one here.

The Seattle Seahawks' pledge to get younger, reiterated this week by general manager John Schneider, will lead to even more roster turnover.

That is good for the organization in the long haul, at least in theory, but roster turnover does produce negative consequences.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, whose future with the team is in question, explained the ramifications during an interview this week with Dave Mahler of Sports Radio 950 KJR in Seattle. Hasselbeck said it's tough enough finding offseason workout partners in Seattle, much less organizing formal practices during the lockout:

"With the amount of free agents that we have on our team, there aren’t a lot of guys that stuck around. And the guys that are here are here because they had offseason surgeries and are doing rehab. It’s been a challenge to get guys to come live here in Seattle in the offseason, because they don’t know they’re going to be on the Seahawks next year. So it’s been disappointing that way.

"But at the same time, it’s been an opportunity to work with guys on other teams, former teammates, Seneca Wallace, Nate Burleson. I’m working out with John Carlson who's kind of my workout partner. And he's an absolute beast, so he’s the perfect partner to work out with because he really gets after it."

Hasselbeck heads a long list of Seattle players without contracts for the 2011 season. The team targeted a few players for extensions, but it shortened contracts in other instances. The turnover that awaits this offseason will come mostly by design.

As for Hasselbeck, he told Mahler his children are strongly opposed to relocating next season. They obviously want their dad to re-sign with Seattle.