NFL announced the compensatory picks for the 2006 NFL Draft.
The Niners received a 7th round comp pick. It is the 46th pick in the 7th Round (#254 overall.) Niners now have a total of 11 picks. They aqcuired the other 3 additional picks from the trades of Jamie Winborn (7th), Tim Rattay (6th), and Brandon Lloyd (3rd).
News is that Johnson is back on his feet and reports that the plantar fascia tear is fully healed. The five-year veteran out of Yale is easing himself into the team’s voluntary conditioning program and said he hopes to be at full speed, including running pass routes, by the second week of April.
The upcoming draft is particularly deep at tight end, and the speculation is that the 49ers might tap Maryland tight end Vernon Davis with the sixth pick. Coach Mike Nolan said last week that he is encouraged by Johnson’s recovery but insisted his progress will have little bearing on the team’s draft selections.
“We’re going to take the best player available in the draft,” Nolan said. “We’re not going to target a position, because we’re not at that point.”
Johnson on the other hand said he couldn’t blame the 49ers if they took a tight end early.
“If I were an owner, I’d want depth,” he said. “I’d want depth at every position. If they draft a tight end early, I’m not going to be offended in any way. That’ll inspire me even more to pick up my game.”
