49ers Ultimate Draft winner: Jerry Rice, Joe Montana too talented to beat

A winner had to be crowned, feelings had to be hurt. But how do you pick a victor between two teams full of all-time great 49ers? 

You set up a Zoom with four people who have too much time on their hands, of course. 

The 49ers Ultimate Draft featured eight Hall of Famers for Team Maiocco and seven for Team Papa. They also differed in eras.

While Papa's team featured a player who dated as far back as 1952, Maiocco's team was littered with single-bar helmet stars. Those players dominated their eras, but could they handle modern athleticism? Our experts say no. 

Here's how our roundtable chose the winner of the 49ers Ultimate Draft. 

Dalton Johnson: Papa 34, Maiocco 17

"Matt, you know the Niners, you're a great reporter, obviously you have knowledge. You know your beer, maybe you had too many right here. I'm sorry, but you're not John Lynch and in this case, you're not Greg Papa." 

Team Maiocco has an advantage with Bill Walsh as their head coach. Walsh always was one step ahead and could have schemed up some unstoppable plays for Steve Young and George Kittle. In the end, though, Papa's team is just too talented and athletic. 

With Joe Montana as his quarterback and both Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens as his options out wide, plus Roger Craig catching balls out of the backfield, this team is going to put up points.

Then on defense, Papa has Deion Sanders and Jimmy Johnson to lock up Dwight Clark and Billy Wilson, and Patrick Willis is the perfect linebacker to spy Young. And good luck trying to block a defensive line that includes Charles Haley, Bryant Young and Dana Stubblefield.

Oh yeah, and my team beats Team Schrock in our redraft. Papa, want to be co-owners?

Josh Schrock: Papa 42, Maiocco 10

"I think if we learned anything from this past year's 49ers, it's this is gonna be won in the trenches. And Papa's defense -- Bryant Young, Charles Haley, Patrick Willis, Dana Stubblefield are going to absolutely maul the likes of, God bless them, Forrest Blue, Howard Mudd, Bob St. Clair.

"I don't even really know how Maiocco's gonna move the ball except for them just feeding George Kittle. Deion Sanders and Jimmy Johnson can lock up Dwight Clark and Billy Wilson."

Bill Walsh is great, no doubt. But Maiocco really put his team at a talent disadvantage in this one, and there's only so much a great coach can do.

I'm fairly certain Bryant Young, Charles Haley and Patrick Willis would bench press Howard Mudd and Bob St. Clair. While those were great players in their era, Papa just has a different caliber of athlete. I really don't think this one should be all that close.

As I showed in the re-draft against Team Johnson, I have a better grasp of how to win these hypothetical matchups. Perhaps Maiocco would like to team up. But I get the final say on selections.

[49ERS INSIDER PODCAST: Listen to the latest episode]

Grant Liffmann: Papa wins by 40, but Maiocco has a strategy

Grant first wanted to remind us that Matt Maiocco is smarter than us (thanks, Grant) and he believes the longtime 49ers insider has a plan. 

"If Matt Maiocco wants to lose a game, he has a strategy behind it. So I think Matt Maiocco loses the game, but he's playing for next year's draft pick." 

But what about the score, Grant? 

"Oh, Papa's gonna win by 40."

[RELATED: Rice, T.O. vs. Lott? Key matchups in 49ers Ultimate Draft]

Laura Britt: Maiocco wins (score doesn't matter)

Laura is staying loyal to her podcast co-host and believes that Maiocco's deep knowledge of the 49ers beats us all. 

"I have to pick Team Maiocco here. I believe Maiocco has been in the trenches with these teams for the past almost 30 years. He's seen a lot of players come in and out of the locker room, come in and out of this franchise, and that ol' George Kittle and Joe Staley, they'll get ya."