Harris Barton was a highly sought-after player in the 1987 Draft after the Offensive Lineman had a very good college career with North Carolina. San Francisco chose him with the 22ndOverall Pick, and Barton would be the starting Right Tackle, earning All-Rookie accolades.
A First Round Pick from Stanford in 1969, Gene Washington was part of the turnaround for the San Francisco 49ers from league doormats to respectability. In his first four seasons in the National Football League, Washington would go to the Pro Bowl, with three of those years seeing him earn First Team All-Pro accolades.
After seven years with the Cincinnati Bengals, Justin Smith signed with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played another seven years. It is very clear that the second half with the Niners was the far more successful portion.
Nikola Mirotic was taken 23rdOverall by Houston in 2011, but he was traded twice that day to become a Chicago Bull, although that would not happen for years.