Baalke leading candidate for NFL Exec of Year

SANTA CLARA -- The 49ers are cleaning up in the win-loss column. And, when that time comes, they figure to clean up in postseason awards, too.Jim Harbaugh is the leading candidate for NFL Coach of the Year. Really, he's the only candidate.
And I'm not sure voters need to look outside the 49ers for another legitimate candidate for NFL Executive of the Year, either.Obviously, team president Jed York played a huge role in hiring Harbaugh. But York made it clear that the general manager would hire the head coach. And that general manager, Trent Baalke, has pushed all the right buttons in his first year with his new title.The 49ers already had a strong nucleus of players. But beginning with the hiring of Harbaugh to a five-year, 25 million contract, Baalke was spot-on with his moves.Harbaugh was the 49ers' most lucrative and flashy offseason acquisition. But Baalke was also the point man during the draft, which netted pass-rusher Aldon Smith, third cornerback Chris Culliver, backup running back Kendall Hunter and starting fullback Bruce Miller.And during the frenetic free-agent signing period, the 49ers made several key moves to upgrade some key positions:--The club signed cornerback Carlos Rogers to replace released veteran Nate Clements.--The 49ers signed veteran Donte Whitner and re-signed Dashon Goldson to fill the safety positions.
--Kicker David Akers was signed to replace Joe Nedney.--The 49ers did not overpay to retain center David Baas. Then, they brought in respected veteran Jonathan Goodwin to take his spot. And they wisely spent the money left over.
--The most money the 49ers spent on a player contract went to defensive end Ray McDonald, who has upgraded the pass rush as an every down player. The 49ers have not felt the loss of nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin, as Isaac Sopoaga moved over to fill the position in the middle of the defense.--The 49ers also locked up running back Frank Gore to a reasonable, three-year contract that eased Gore's concerns before the start of the regular season.--The 49ers also picked up receiver Braylon Edwards from the NFL bargain bin. He has yet to make a major impact, but he is a starter who still might factor prominently in the offense.
Here are some of the other postseason awards in which 49ers are on the "watch list" with seven games remaining in the regular season:Defensive Player of the Year: The 49ers have two strong candidates with linebacker Patrick Willis and defensive lineman Justin Smith. Both players would be logical selections for the award. Defensive backs Darrelle Revis (New York Jets) and Charles Woodson (Green Bay), and sack artists Jared Allen (Minnesota) and DeMarcus Ware (Dallas) are also strong candidates.Comeback Player: Quarterback Alex Smith. Some players, such as Tony Romo (Dallas), Matthew Stafford (Detroit) and Jermichael Finley (Green Bay), are playing at high levels after returning from injuries that wiped out their 2010 seasons. Carolina receiver Steve Smith has already blown away the numbers he put up last season in 14 games. Alex Smith missed a couple games last year due to an injury. But he is merely returning from an average season, as he threw 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions a year ago. But perception is everything, so Smith has a chance.Defensive Rookie of the Year: Aldon Smith has fallen behind in the race as his sack totals have slowed. He is not an every-down player, so that does not help his case. Von Miller (Denver), Ryan Kerrigan (Washington), and Brooks Reed (Houston) probably rank ahead of Smith on most ballots right now. But Smith can win the award with a strong conclusion to the season.