Baalke talks LBs, says Myles Jack remained on 49ers’ draft board

SANTA CLARA -- Trent Baalke said Thursday the 49ers didn't remove UCLA's Myles Jack from their draft board altogether but admitted they had "some concern" over the linebacker's knee, which Jack has acknowledged may require microfracture surgery in the future.

"As did a lot of teams, obviously," Baalke, the 49ers' general manager, said on KNBR radio about the team's concern. "But he's a rare talent. And we wish him nothing but the best and hope he makes it through his entire career healthy."

The 49ers spent a lot of time with Jack in the run-up to the draft. Baalke attended his pro day in Los Angeles while Jack visited the team in the Bay Area where he presumably was given a physical.

Though he was considered one of the draft's most talented players, he wasn't taken until the second round when the Jaguars grabbed him with the 36th overall pick. The 49ers originally had the 37th overall pick but packaged that selection along with two other picks to move back into the first round for guard Joshua Garnett.

The 49ers did not take a linebacker in the draft even though, after losing Patrick Willis and Chris Borland to retirements a year ago, that position appeared to be one of their biggest needs.

Said Baalke: "We feel real good about the group we have -- Ray-Ray Armstrong has done an excellent job this offseason as has Gerald Hodges, Michael Wilhoite coming back and Bow (NaVorro Bowman) looks like he's returning to form, pre-injury form. So we felt good about the group and we just didn't feel at any point during the draft that we were in position to pick one that would have come in and been better than the guys we currently have on our roster."

Baalke did not mention inside linebackers Shayne Skov and Nick Bellore, who also are on the roster.

This story was originally published May 5, 2016 at 11:15 AM with the headline "Baalke talks LBs, says Myles Jack remained on 49ers’ draft board."