General manager Trent Baalke began the practice in 2013, when the 49ers had 11 draft picks and a proven, veteran-heavy roster after a Super Bowl season.
The 49ers were picking late in each round, and it was going to be difficult for more than a handful of rookies to earn spots on the 53-man roster.
So Baalke drafted two players coming off significant knee injuries who were not expected to make any immediate contribution. Defensive lineman Tank Carradine, generally regarded as a first-round talent, was chosen in the second round. And one of college football’s best running backs, Marcus Lattimore, was selected in the fourth round.