And then there was one.
The San Francisco 49ers announced Thursday evening that they have signed six members of their seven-man draft pick class to four-year contracts. The only rookie pick left standing is first-rounder A.J. Jenkins.
Signed were second-round running back LaMichael James, fourth-round guard Joe Looney, fifth-round linebacker Darius Fleming, sixth-round picks Trent Robinson, a safety, and Jason Slowey, an offensive lineman, and seventh-round linebacker Cam Johnson.
The Niners caught some media flak for their 2012 draft class because draftniks didn’t believe Jenkins would go in the first round, and because James doesn’t play a position of immediate need. Clearly, however, San Francisco wanted to add explosiveness on offense. Jenkins ran a 4.41 at the Combine, and James clocked a 4.4-flat.
James (pictured) will compete for playing time with Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter, Brandon Jacobs, and Anthony Dixon, though the latter is tentatively expected to be the odd man out. James lacks the same amount of physicality, but has drawn some comparisons to Darren Sproles for his playmaking ability and receiving skills.
