The 7th Pick Looked Awkward, Then Aldon Smith Lifted Joe Staley Off His Feet and Nobody Was Ready For It

Man, you ever watch a guy in camp and think, "What in the world did we just draft?" I sure did, way back in 2011, my first season covering pro football. We were all hyped, fresh off that NFL lockout that kept players off the field from March to July, so training camp was our first look at everyone. And when I tell you the 49ers' 7th overall pick, Aldon Smith, looked completely lost at first, I'm not kidding. But then, a few minutes later, something happened that made me realize we were seeing a truly special player emerge, and it was absolutely wild.

From Confusion to "What Just Happened?!"

So, the 49ers drafted Smith 7th overall, and it was already controversial. This dude was a 4-3 defensive end at Missouri, but the Niners ran a 3-4 defense. Everyone was asking, how's he gonna fit? Should they have gone for an edge rusher like Robert Quinn instead, or maybe even a quarterback like Blaine Gabbert or Christian Ponder? On day one of training camp, Smith was out there warming up with the linebackers, even rocking the No. 48 jersey, not his iconic No. 99 yet. He looked totally awkward. During drills where linebackers practice stacking and shedding blocking sleds, it was clear: the guy didn't know what he was doing. Veteran Parys Haralson, bless his soul, had to show him the ropes, with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio coaching him up. I distinctly remember thinking, "The first-round pick doesn't even know how to play his position. What

Trade on Every Game with Kalshi

Click Here to sign up to Kalshi — Free $10 when you sign up using our link or use code: ONTAPSEA. The only federally regulated prediction market in the US. Trade on real sports outcomes. Available in all 50 states.

a mistake."

The Moment Everything Changed

But then, things shifted. The players moved into one-on-one drills, where wide receivers go against cornerbacks, and defensive linemen face offensive linemen. You know, the good stuff. The very first rep was Smith against Joe Staley, the starting left tackle. Now, Staley was no joke. He was probably the team's fourth-best player at the time, right up there behind legends like Patrick Willis, Frank Gore, and Justin Smith. He was in his absolute prime! I fully expected him to school the rookie, and honestly, Staley probably did too. But what happened next? Pure shock. The first time they went at it, Smith grabbed Staley by his shoulder pads, actually lifted him clean off his feet, and then walked him straight back into the imaginary quarterback's lap. I'll never forget the sheer panic in Staley's eyes. It was over in a flash. They went at it a few more times, and Staley couldn't win a single rep. Not one. Smith's arms were so long, Staley simply couldn't get his hands on him. He was at Smith's complete mercy. Smith was only 21 years old then, and after just one practice, he had already proven he was better than the team's fourth-best player. By the end of his second season, he might have been the best player in the entire NFL, setting a record for sacks in his first two years. That day in camp, watching him go from clueless to dominant in minutes, you just knew he was destined for greatness. He had the kind of raw, undeniable talent that could have made him one of the all-time greats, a true game-wrecker.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.