Here is the Draft I wish we had (well, because that's who I would've picked on my pre-draft wish list)

1st #28, Safety Moehrig. Went $43. No idea why. Draft gurus would say I reached. Yeah, to help myself to success. Please pass so I can reach.

2nd #60, Edge Boogie Bashram. Went the next pick. Woulda loved to call that name all the time.

And, because I'm not silly enough to trade away two 3rd round picks:

3rd #98, CB Elijah Molden. There because he's 5' 10". Went #100. Surely would've at least been discussed in our draft room (given the bloodline connection to NO) and THERE if only we'd not "traded up" once again. I would've pounded the table then (maybe held my breath, too).

3rd #105, LB Jabril Cox, LSU. Went #115. No idea why he fell so far but I would've ignored it. Dallas did. Another table-pounding. They better know something (or get a new table).

4th #133. DT Daviyon Nixon, Iowa. Went #158 to Carolina (who know how to pick DTs).

Also, the chart Guido shared on historical ranking of best picks by round shows DL the best pick in the 4th at 37% starters. Go with the odds.

https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2015/...draft-by-round

Would've taken NT Shelvin LSU if still there, but he went #122. I would've said, where's SP when you need him?

6th #218. CB Tay Gowan, UCF. Went #223 because he opted out of 2020 season. Silly. Maybe Molden IS too short (but I doubt it).

And, because I'm not silly enough to trade away picks when the draft value charts practically give away a pick in the 7th:

7th #229. TE Soehner. Had him on my pre-draft "wish list" because he's 6/7", 272lbs, and can block and is underated for the catch. And that's the only way to get a Kelce in the late rounds.
But, we got him UDFA, hurray finally got one the FO agreed with. And they paid him like 120K.

7th #255. DT Josiah Bronson. Why not? Saints gave him $140K (the most) to sign him. He coulda been a draft-evader (with Carter not around to give him amnesty). Why risk it--that's why they call it a "Draft."

I also had on my list (instead of Bronson above) to use this last pick on Ar'Darius Washington, the "other TCU Safety". There because he's 5'8", 178 lbs. In the 7th, I say "to hell with the odds."

Wouldn't it be cool to have 2 safeties (Moehrig and Washington) who just excelled together and see if synergy and immediate cohesion translates? Because, it did at least once.

https://www.espn.com/blog/san-franci...er-bowl-titles

"In 1981, the 49ers went DB crazy in the draft, selecting Ronnie Lott in the first round, Eric Wright as the second of two second-rounders, Carlton Williamson in the third round and Lynn Thomas in the fifth.

Lott and Wright were immediate starters at cornerback as rookies, while Williamson started at strong safety that first year. The revamped Niners secondary served as a springboard on the defensive side of the ball for the NFL's team of the '80s."

Totally ruined my childhood and the 80s in one draft.

Khairi Fortt in the 4th #126 in the infamous 2014 Draft. We said, who?

Stephone Anthony in the 1st #31, 2015.
(Should've taken Eric Kendricks but everyone thought he was too small. Still starting and excelling (just like his brother--and that was a clue) w/ the Vikes. 2019 Pro Bowl)

Even worse: Kikaha in the 2nd #44, 2015.

Even worse, Davis Tull in the 4th #148, 2015.
Enough said. Was the scouting team fired after 2014 or 2015, I forget.

Not a "blunder", but a disappointment: Anzalone in the 3rd #76, 2017.
So "athletic" we let him go FA after sitting him when we got Kwon Alexander. I hated his play in the Sr Bowl. Did the FO watch?

Another disappointment: Martez Wilson in the 3rd #72 (kinda hi to miss), 2011. Should've never started but since he did, not a blunder.

These fit the our draft formula: fast, big enough, and athletic but not a good LB. And ignore medicals.

Note that Fort was the responsibility of the scouting department that was canned following the 2014 season. Same with Wilson in 2011. Anthony, Kikaha, and Tull were all picked in that void where the fired staff had done all of the scouting up until January 20, 2015 and Ireland's crew came on shortly before the draft.

None worked out, but I wouldn't call them drafting blunders.

blun·der
/ˈbləndər/

a stupid or careless mistake.
"she stopped, finally aware of the terrible blunder she had made"

I gave the two times that the Vikings were late turning in their pick cards as examples. Those would be classified as blunders. Having a pick not be a success isn't a blunder. It happens to 2/3rd's of all picks to some degree according to the chart you shared that I had posted. It is the nature of the draft. It is simply a bad pick based upon any number of factors.

And who kept that scouting department in place from '06 until they were sacked after '14?

C'mon Chris, are you sure about that? I think it would be fun to re live some of the prognostications by some here on players taken 3 short seasons ago.

"Why would we take a o lineman in the 1st round when we could get one in the 2nd or 3rd" … result All Pro Ryan Ramz.

"No way I would have moved up to get a RB in 3rd from Tenn that no one ever heard of." … All Pro Alvin Kamara.

"I doubt he will develop. Limited pass rushing moves". Trey Hendrickson (tied for 2nd in sacks in 2020) & got paid by Cincy.

We …. don't …. know …. anything.

The 2021 draft class could be full of ballers 3 seasons from now.

Trust the process.