49ers: Lawson's pass-rushing job looks secure

Trying to determine winners and losers among the 32 NFL teams based on the players drafted over the weekend is an exercise best performed years down the road.

However, it was easy to pinpoint winners and losers on every roster across the league when teams handpicked their newcomers.

The 49ers’ actions certainly sent messages about which incumbents have reason to feel secure — as well as those with little job security.

The 49ers did not address the pass rush — or their depth at outside linebacker — in the draft. That can only be interpreted as a good thing for starter Manny Lawson. He enters his fourth NFL season after missing most of 2007 because of a torn knee ligament.

“It would be very easy just to go get a pass rusher or defensive end to appease someone, but I think it’s very important for us to have someone who’s going to actually upgrade what we already have,” 49ers coach Mike Singletary said. “I feel very comfortable with Manny doing the things that he needs to do to get better. I think Manny is totally healed. I think he’s been moving great. I think his confidence is going to be there.”

Newly acquired veteran Marvel Smith, who is slated to start at right tackle, and reserve offensive lineman Adam Snyder received unspoken votes of confidence, too.

If the 49ers were going to select an offensive tackle in the draft, it would have been with the No. 10 overall pick. As much as the 49ers might have wanted one of the top four tackles, they were pleased to select receiver Michael Crabtree in the first round.

The 49ers only briefly considered adding Oregon offensive lineman Max Unger in the second round before working a trade with the Carolina Panthers to pick up another first-round pick in the 2010 draft.

“There just wasn’t the value there when we were picking,” Singletary said.

Through the second day of the draft, the 49ers did not believe they would be able to select a player who could crack the top eight – ahead of any starter or backups Snyder, Tony Wragge or Cody Wallace.

Of course, there were plenty of returning players whose roads to the 53-man roster got a lot more difficult.

The biggest logjam is at wide receiver, where the 49ers added Crabtree to the mix. Suddenly, second-year player Josh Morgan is no longer the favorite to win a starting job at split end.

Crabtree and Morgan will compete for the starting job.

“They’ve got to get out there and play,” 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan said. “No one is going to wait around for them. We expect big strides from Josh.”

It also could make veteran Arnaz Battle expendable. Battle is scheduled to make $1.49 million in the final year of his contract.

Dominique Zeigler, a graduate of the practice squad, caught five passes late in the season. He is now a distant third on the depth chart at split end.

“It will take care of itself,” McCloughan said. “If you feel that you’re six or seven deep with good football players, that’s a pretty good group to us.”

Running back Thomas Clayton can relate to Zeigler. Clayton, who led the 49ers in rushing during the past two exhibition seasons, has even greater obstacles standing between him and a roster spot.

The 49ers selected Alabama running back Glen Coffee in the third round. They have also reached a contract agreement with Purdue speedster Kory Sheets as an undrafted free agent.

Clayton was among the 49ers’ final cuts both the past two seasons. He finally was promoted from the practice squad for the final two games last season, but did not play. The addition of two rookies could also put some heat on Michael Robinson, who is still likely to win a job because of his prowess on special teams.

The status of 10th-year linebacker Jeff Ulbrich is murky after the team selected Pitt’s Scott McKillop in the fifth round of the draft. Ulbrich is scheduled to make $2.23 million in the final year of his contract.

The 49ers granted veteran safety Mark Roman permission to seek a trade after the club decided to promote Dashon Goldson to the starting lineup. Roman remains under contract, but the 49ers added safety Curtis Taylor of LSU in the seventh round.

For more on the 49ers, go to Instant 49ers at http://blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers. You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at 521-5492 or matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com