49ers strike blue and gold with J.J.
By Eric Branch
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Saturday at the NFL draft in New York the rich got richer and
former UCLA All-American wide receiver J.J. Stokes found the
perfect place to begin his NFL career.
While other teams questioned Stokes 4.7 speed and nodded in
agreement as Colorado wide receiver Michael Westbrook (fourth
overall) and Ohio State wideout Joey Galloway (eighth) were drafted
ahead of him, the world champion San Francisco 49ers predictably
traded up to steal Stokes and another draft.
One year after moving up to grab impact defensive tackle Bryant
Young from Notre Dame, the 49ers dealt with the Cleveland Browns to
move from the 30th pick overall to the 10th.
In addition to swapping places, the 49ers also sent Cleveland
third and fourth round picks plus their first round selection in
’96.
As a result Stokes will now be be learning from future Hall of
Famer Jerry Rice and perennial All-Pro John Taylor, although there
is speculation Taylor will now be traded.
"I think that’ll be beneficial to me," Stokes said. "I can learn
the ropes, just see how Jerry and John react to situations they’re
in and what they do. Basically, it will be a learning process and I
think that will be the best thing for me."
The 49ers rated Stokes the best receiver available in the draft
even though his 40-yard dash times are considerably slower than
those of Westbrook and Galloway.
"All I have to do is run past the defenders," Stokes said. "I am
always criticized, but as long as I get the ball in the end zone,
you will get no complaints from me."
The only other Bruin selected in the draft was cornerback Carl
Greenwood. Greenwood, who sat out the majority of last season with
a broken ankle, was selected in the fifth round by the New York
Jets.