In 49ers news today, the perceived character and substance-abuse concerns surrounding linebacker Aldon Smith weren't an issue for the team in their evaluation of him prior to the 2011 NFL Draft.
Per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, "when the 49ers took Smith with the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft, they viewed his character as a positive attribute, not a concern."
“I’m really impressed with him as a person, he’s an all-American young man,” San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Smith's draft day, via the San Francisco Chronicle. “Just great wiring, many blessings from Mom, Dad and God.”
It is interesting to note that NaVorro Bowman went into the 2010 NFL Draft facing countless questions about his character after several off-the-field issues presented themselves at Penn State.
Bowman has matured into one of the most respected leaders on the team -- a situation which the 49ers may still see as possible for Smith after picking up his fifth-year option for the 2015 NFL season.