http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/163576.html
An 'in' and an 'out' pattern
The 49ers trade for productive Seahawks receiver Darrell Jackson, who had some issues in Seattle.
By Matthew Barrows - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:13 am PDT Monday, April 30, 2007
SANTA CLARA-The 49ers continued to stock up on defensive rookies Sunday, but it was the addition of a veteran offensive player that made the biggest splash.
Just before Day 2 of the draft got under way, the 49ers and Seahawks finalized a long-rumored trade that sent Seattle's top receiver last year, Darrell Jackson, to San Francisco for one of the 49ers' four fourth-round draft choices.
Jackson, 28, has had more than 1,000 receiving yards three times in his seven-year career and would have done so last season if he hadn't missed the final three games with a turf toe injury. Jackson passed a physical Saturday and is signed through the 2009 season.
Asked why the Seahawks would part ways with him and get so little in return, Jackson cited bad blood with general manager Tim Ruskell.
"They brought in some good players like Deion Branch and Nate Burleson, and they have an up-and-coming star in D.J. Hackett, so I guess he really likes those guys," Jackson said. "I wasn't one of his guys."
Jackson's relationship with the Seahawks began deteriorating in 2004 when Jackson felt he was short-changed on his contract. He continued to be productive on the field but recently did not take part in voluntary team activities.
With San Francisco, he'll have plenty of opportunities to exact revenge, and will do so on a squad he considers a newer version of the Seahawks. Jackson drew parallels between 49ers rusher Frank Gore and the Seahawks' Shaun Alexander, and he said quarterback Alex Smith quickly was becoming like Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck.
"We beat the NFC West champion twice last year in the Seahawks, and I was a big part of (Seattle's) success there from a wide receiver standpoint," he said. "Me bringing my stats and ability over here might put us over the edge."
Coach Mike Nolan said Jackson probably would play the "z" or "flanker" position currently occupied by Arnaz Battle.
"We'll see how that (competition) goes," Nolan said. "It ought to be interesting."
The 49ers also spent Sunday welcoming their two first-round draft picks, linebacker Patrick Willis and offensive tackle Joe Staley, to Santa Clara. Willis said the impact of the past two days finally sunk in when he was given his jersey and saw his name and new number -- 52, an homage to Baltimore's Ray Lewis -- on the back.
"When they put that jersey in my hand, I saw 52 and I'm holding a San Francisco jersey with Willis on the back and I said, 'Man, I truly am blessed at this moment to be here holding this jersey,' " he said.
Willis was one of six defensive players the 49ers selected this weekend. They began the fourth round Sunday by selecting Jay Moore, a defensive end out of Nebraska who likely will be converted to linebacker. They also took Dashon Goldson, a 208-pound defensive back out of Washington, and Joe Cohen, a 315-pound defensive lineman from Florida, in the fourth round.
Their final two picks, Texas cornerback Tarell Brown and Kansas State running back Thomas Clayton, raised some eyebrows because both had been arrested in the past two years.
Nolan, however, insisted the team had done an exhaustive analysis of both players that included sessions with the team psychologist and that the 49ers were convinced they wouldn't be a problem.
"I don't have reservations about the two players we (drafted) at the end because I do believe that they're both good-character people, and that's the key," Nolan said.
How the 49ers fared
Report card
• Day 2 mission: To replace the roster's current bottom-tier players with young players who have better potential and to add one or two players who might become eventual starters.
• Accomplished: Hard to say. Both Jay Moore and Joe Cohen were productive at big college programs, and Moore in particular seems like just the type of " 'tweener" who excels in 3-4 defenses. The two final picks, however, stand out at a time in which character concerns are under the league microscope.
• Grade: C
Scouting the new players
No. 104, Jay Moore, LB, Nebraska, 6-foot-4, 273 pounds
• Comment: Moore is yet another player the 49ers got to know at the Senior Bowl. A hard-working lineman in college who projects as a strong-side linebacker in the 49ers' 3-4 scheme.
• Coach Mike Nolan says: "He's a big, very athletic player who played both up and down at Nebraska. At Nebraska, they had three or four players that we evaluated, and he showed up quite a bit (on film)."
No. 126, Dashon Goldson, DB, Washington, 6-2, 208
• Comment: Big defensive back who played cornerback last year but projects as a safety. A poor 40-yard dash time at the combine might have hurt his draft status.
• Nolan says: "I'd rather take a 4.65-(second) guy who's a good football player than a 4.45-(second) track guy."
No. 135, Joe Cohen, DT, Florida, 6-2, 315
• Comment: A run stuffer at Florida who likely will fit into the 49ers' defense as a nose tackle. The question is whether he's stout enough for the position.
• Nolan says: "I would compare him to Ronald Fields. I think that's a good comparison. And Ronald Fields has done well since he's been here."
No. 147, Tarell Brown, CB, Texas, 5-10, 190
• Comment: Might have been overshadowed by fellow cornerback Aaron Ross, a first-round pick of the New York Giants, and his draft stock might have suffered after a September arrest for weapons and drug possession.
• Nolan says: "A very productive player -- a three-year starter. He also has some ability as a returner."
No. 186, Thomas Clayton, RB, Kansas State, 6-2, 218
• Comment: Was Kansas State's most talented runner over the past two seasons, but run-ins with his coaching staff and the law cut into his playing time. By all accounts a character risk.
• Nolan says: "I don't paint the picture that some others (do). I'm confident in our decisions because we don't take character (issues) lightly."
About the writer: The Bee's Matthew Barrows can be reached at mbarrows@ sacbee.com.