Who Was The Biggest Steal? #9

As we continue our countdown of the ten best 49er draft picks of all time, the number nine choice seems like it should have been as easy a pick to make as any, but then hindsight is ,as they say, 20-20.

Previously : Number 10 - Y.A. Tittle

Number 9:

1981 - Round -1 - DB - Ronnie Lott, USC

As a highly touted rookie coming out of Southern California, there weren't too many people surprised when the 49ers made Ronnie Lott the 8th player selected in the 1981 draft. Still, few could have predicted how much of an impact, both statistically and emotionally, that Lott would have on the young and inexperienced 49er team. Passing on future hall-of-famers Howie Long and Mike Singletary, and drafting after such players as Freeman McNeill, Kenny Easley and most notably, Lawrence Taylor, there was a lot of expectation on Lott. He delivered, leading a defense in his rookie season that helped San Francisco win its first Super Bowl. Ronnie followed this up by helping the 49ers to 3 more world championships, grabbing 63 interceptions and a reputation as one of the game's great intimidators along the way. Lott spent 10 seasons as a Forty-Niner, followed by short stints with the L.A. Raiders and New York Jets. He played in 10 Pro Bowls, was a member of the NFL's 75th anniversary team in 1994 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.