SANTA CLARA – With only two games left in the season, it's apparent rookie tackle Joe Staley has been one of the best at his position in the draft.
The question is whether he has been worth, in effect, a top-10 selection.
Although the 49ers will finish with one of the league's worst records this season, they won't be rewarded with a high first-round pick. San Francisco traded that selection to New England in April to secure Staley with the 28th overall pick.
The 49ers are confident they made the right choice.
Team officials looked closely at Penn State tackle Levi Brown – chosen fifth overall by Arizona – before the draft, but they say Staley has outperformed Brown this season. The only rookie tackle who can claim to have had a better year than Staley is the Browns' Joe Thomas, who was selected third overall.
"Watching the film of the other tackles that went in the draft, Joe (Staley) has done an outstanding job," coach Mike Nolan said Thursday. "So, yeah, (I'm) very pleased."
Staley has started every game at right tackle this season but has been told he'll move to left tackle, his college position, next year. It hasn't been decided whether the incumbent there, Jonas Jennings, will compete at left tackle or move to the right side.
If the draft were held today, the Patriots – via the 49ers – would pick fifth overall, leading some to criticize the Staley deal. What does Staley think of that criticism?
"Most of those (comments) are made by people who haven't really watched us," he said. "Because I feel like I've played well."
Staying put – Vice president of player personnel Scot McCloughan brushed aside an Internet report linking him to Miami's general manager position. McCloughan said he would remain with the 49ers.
Nolan had a similar comment: "It's my understanding that Scot wants to stay, but that's a decision that he has to make. I think the ownership has been committed to Scot since the day he arrived and (has) remained committed."
The Dolphins on Thursday hired Bill Parcells as their executive vice president of football operations. Parcells is close with former Packers general manager Ron Wolf, who mentored McCloughan when the two were with Green Bay. Parcells has not said what will happen to current Dolphins general manager Randy Mueller.
Et cetera – Linebacker Roderick Green returned to practice Thursday after missing the previous day's session with an illness. Trent Dilfer (concussion) is the only player ruled out of Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.
• Quarterback Alex Smith (shoulder surgery) is tentatively scheduled to resume throwing in three months and to be fully healed in six months. The 49ers hope he'll be back for the team's first minicamp in early May.
• Offensive tackle Damane Duckett was activated because two teams, Denver and Dallas, were interested in signing him off the 49ers' practice squad. The 49ers hope Duckett, a former defensive tackle, will compete at right tackle next season.
Read Matthew Barrows' 49ers blog at www.sacbee.com/blogs.
