2017 NFL Draft Order Through Week 15
With just two weeks to go, the NFL playoff picture is starting to get clearer. The Cowboys, Seahawks, Patriots, and Raiders have already punched their playoff tickets while the Chiefs, Steelers, Falcons, and Giants are considered near locks by the forecasts at Five Thirty Eight.
Here’s a look at where the draft order stands for the teams not currently slated to make the cut (Note: Ties are broken by strength of schedule):
1. Browns 0-14
2. 49ers 1-13
3. Jaguars 2-12
4. Bears 3-11
5. Jets 4-10
6. Rams (pick belongs to Titans) 4-10
7. Eagles (pick belongs to Browns) 5-9
8. Chargers 5-9
9. Cardinals 5-8-1
10. Bengals 5-8-1
11. Panthers 6-8
12. Saints 6-8
13. Bills 7-7
14. Colts 7-7
15. Vikings (pick belongs to Eagles) 7-7
16. Redskins 7-6-1
17. Titans 8-6
17. Ravens 8-6 (Note: The Titans and Ravens are currently knotted up in terms of both record and strength of schedule. In all statistical likelihood, the SOS logjam will be broken by the end of the season.)
19. Texans 8-6
20. Buccaneers 8-6
49ers Audition J’Marcus Webb
Things didn’t work out between J’Marcus Webb and the Seahawks. Could the offensive tackle try and redeem himself with an NFC West rival? The 49ers worked out Webb on Monday, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. 
[RELATED: 49ers Extend LB Ray-Ray Armstrong]
Webb joined the Seahawks this past offseason on a two-year, $6.25MM ($2.5MM guaranteed) deal. The former seventh-round pick was expected to compete for a starting gig, and the 28-year-old did end up starting three games for Seattle. However, the veteran’s role diminished over time and he was released in November.
In his 223 snaps for Seattle, Webb was given a dreadful 38.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. Still, Webb offers plenty of starting experience, as the veteran has had three seasons with 16 starts. In six-plus seasons, Webb has played 80 games between the Seahawks, Raiders, Vikings, and Bears. He also has some experience playing on the interior line.
The 49ers could use some O-Line help considering that left tackle Joe Staley (hamstring) has missed the past couple of games, center Daniel Kilgore was placed on IR, and Kilgore’s replacement Marcus Martin suffered an ankle injury on Sunday.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/19/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed WR B.J. Daniels
- Cut: WR J.D. McKissic
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed LB Lavar Edwards
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DB Jerome Couplin, LB Cassanova McKinz, LB Reggie Northrup, DB Kevin Short (link via Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com)
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Brandon Chubb
49ers Extend LB Ray-Ray Armstrong
The 49ers announced that they’ve signed linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong to a two-year extension, locking him up through the 2018 campaign. Armstrong hasn’t played since late September after suffering a pectoral injury.
[RELATED: 49ers Place Nick Bellore On IR]
“Ray-Ray had a strong offseason and was off to a good start in 2016 prior to being sidelined for the season due to injury,” said general manager Trent Baalke. “He has continued to work hard in his rehab and is a young player with a bright future in front of him. We look forward to his continued development and contributions, both on and off the field.”
San Francisco claimed Armstrong off waivers from the Raiders in 2015, and the 25-year-old went on to play five games with the Niners last year. He was re-signed in March 2016, and had posted seven tackles, two passes defense, and one interception through two games this season before succumbing to injury. Originally a Rams undrafted free agent in 2013, Armstrong figures to return as a key special teamer and depth option in 2017.
49ers Claim Carl Bradford, Sign Jim Dray
- The 49ers announced that they’ve claimed linebacker Carl Bradford off waivers from the Packers. San Francisco placed LB Nick Bellore on injured reserve earlier today, so Bradford, who’s appeared in four games for Green Bay this season, will add depth in the Bay Area as the Niners close out the 2016 campaign. San Francisco also announced that it has signed veteran tight end Jim Dray, who began the season with Buffalo.
49ers Place Three Players On IR
As the 49ers seek their second win of the year, they’ll have to do it without the services of three of their players. Wide receiver Quinton Patton, linebacker Nick Bellore, and tight end Blake Bell will all be shut down for the year, as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes. 
Patton (foot) and Bellore (elbow) both went down early on in Sunday’s embarrassing 41-13 loss to the Falcons. Bell, meanwhile, suffered a shoulder injury after being tackled on a 45-yard pass play in the second quarter. In addition to those three, Maiocco notes that cornerback Jimmie Ward (shoulder), center Marcus Martin (ankle), and nose tackle Glenn Dorsey (undisclosed) also sustained injuries yesterday and their status for Weeks 16 and 17 are not yet known.
The 49ers could fill some of these roster spots from within, if they choose. Wide receiver DeAndre Smelter and linebacker Wynton McManis could be candidates for promotion from the practice squad, Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee tweets.
49ers Put In Waiver Claim For Darius Jackson
- The 49ers put in a waiver claim on running back Darius Jackson, a league source tells Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (on Twitter). Unfortunately for the Niners, the Browns had top priority on the waiver wire and nabbed him instead.
49ers’ Trent Baalke Could Land With Broncos
According to several reports out of San Francisco, 49ers GM Trent Baalke will likely be pushed out this offseason. If that’s the case, then he may not be out of work for long. Baalke, who has a good relationship with John Elway, could wind up with the Broncos, sources tell Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. 
[RELATED: 49ers Place Center Daniel Kilgore On IR]
Baalke and Elway have spent time considerable together while the two teams held joint practices each of the past two summers. Elway figures to continue as the Broncos’ lead decision-maker, but Baalke could be brought in with some type of consultant title.
Although the 49ers are struggling with just one win so far this year, the team isn’t too far removed from success. In Baalke’s first three seasons at the helm, the 49ers made deep playoff runs. The Niners made it to the conference championship round in the 2011 and 2013 seasons and reached the Super Bowl following the 2012 season.
Baalke may not get to run another team right away, but he is highly respected as a college talent evaluator and could bring that expertise to Denver next year.
10 Coaching Candidates For The Rams
In an iconic scene from season nine of The Simpsons, Krusty the Klown announced his retirement to a scrum of not-so-stunned reporters. 
“But Krusty,” one reporter asks. “Why now? Why not twenty years ago?”
It wouldn’t have been out of place for any Rams beat reporter to channel that sentiment and ask a similar question of COO Kevin Demoff when he addressed the media on Monday. Jeff Fisher‘s dismissal was long overdue and you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone outside of the coach’s family who disagrees.
For now, the Rams will turn things over to special teams coordinator John Fassel on an interim basis. While this is ostensibly a chance for Fassel to impress team brass and land the head coaching job for 2017, most are expecting the Rams to hire a name brand coach that will energize the fan base and give the team some additional panache in free agency.
With a few weeks to go between now and the official end of the Rams’ season, here are ten names that could be considered for the job:
Jim Harbaugh, head coach at the University of Michigan: Some say that living well is the best revenge. Others say that the best revenge against your former employer is setting up shop across the street and destroying them. Santa Clara-to-Los Angeles is a lengthy drive, but you get what we’re getting at.
Harbaugh, in theory, could leave his alma mater and crush the 49ers by joining up with a divisional rival. The Rams have reportedly been loafing in practice and Harbaugh is the kind of throwback disciplinarian that the team badly needs. It’s fair to assume that the Rams will get in contact with Harbaugh, but it will be tough to get him to leave his lucrative job in Ann Arbor.
With National Signing Day around the corner, Harbaugh could publicly remove himself himself from consideration if he is not at all interested in an NFL return. Alternatively, if Harbaugh wants to get sweet revenge against the Niners, Stan Kroenke better have his checkbook ready. Signing Harbaugh could cost upwards of $10MM/year and that’s before factoring in his buyout clause with the Wolverines. If Harbaugh bolts, he’ll owe U-M the prorated portion of his $2MM signing bonus. With two of the seven years served, 5/7ths of that amount comes out to roughly $1.43MM.
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49ers Place Center Daniel Kilgore On IR
The 49ers announced today that they’ve placed starting center Daniel Kilgore on injured reserve with a knee injury and promoted offensive lineman Alex Balducci from the practice squad.
[RELATED: 49ers Place Vance McDonald On IR]
Kilgore, who turns 29 years old this week, had been in the midst of his first season as a full-time starter along the San Francisco offensive line, and though he’d played more than 90% of the club’s offensive snaps, he hadn’t been all that effective, grading as just the league’s No. 30 center, according to Pro Football Focus. Under the terms of extension signed in 2014, Kilgore is signed through the 2017 season, and is set to count for just over $1.5MM on the Niners’ cap next year.
Balducci, meanwhile, will join Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner as fellow Oregon defensive linemen (that’s right, defensive linemen) on the San Francisco roster under former Ducks head coach Chip Kelly. After playing on the defensive side of the ball during his collegiate days, who has been transitioning to offense while on the Niners’ practice squad this year, as Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee details.