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Facebook friend Jonathan makes a simple request of the San Francisco 49ers: get Mike Wallace.

"How valuable could the 30th pick be?" he asks.

This is the most enticing argument for chasing after a young, talented restricted free agent such as Wallace, who might qualify as the best deep-threat receiver in the NFL. NFC West fans might remember Wallace's 95-yard touchdown reception against Arizona last season, or his 53-yard reception against Seattle, or his 46-yarder against St. Louis.

Wallace would give the 49ers the deep-threat wideout their rotation has been lacking.

A few considerations:

• Price: The 49ers would have to pay Wallace enough for two things to happen. One, Wallace would have to sign an offer sheet, forcing the 49ers to outbid any other suitors. Two, the deal would need to be structured so that Pittsburgh would not match it. The 49ers would then have to send their first-round choice, 30th overall, to the Steelers.
• Fit: The 49ers have carefully identified which players in their locker room to hold up as leaders. Patrick Willis, Joe Staley and Vernon Davis have gotten lucrative long-term deals. Justin Smith and Frank Gore have also been highly paid. Smith is the perfect example of a free agent from another team who was worth the investment. The 49ers would have to feel good about how Wallace would react to a payday. Signing him affects dynamics at the position, putting Wallace over Michael Crabtree and the other receivers.
• The pick: It's easy to discount the value of that 30th choice because so many draft choices fail to pan out. But that is why teams employ personnel departments. The 2009 first round was largely disappointing, but the Green Bay Packers nonetheless landed B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews. Tennessee stood pat at No. 30 and drafted Kenny Britt, who averaged 17.5 yards per reception with 15 touchdowns before suffering a season-ending knee injury early last season. Niner fans will point to the 2004 draft, when San Francisco took receiver Rashaun Woods at No. 31. But a look at receivers drafted from the 28th through 32nd picks since 2001 shows Woods was more exception than rule. Hakeem Nicks, Britt, Craig Davis, Anthony Gonzalez, Michael Jenkins and Reggie Wayne were the other receivers in that group.
• The offense: Would the 49ers maximize their investment in a deep-threat receiver? Would Wallace open up their offense, taking them to another level? Or would the nature of the 49ers' approach and potential limitations at quarterback leave us wondering why Wallace's production had failed to carry over?

I'd have a hard time criticizing the 49ers if they made a strong play for Wallace. They need help at the position. Wallace is only 25 years old. Wallace is established and ascending.

It's true that receivers often disappoint, but very few in Wallace's position hit the market. The new labor agreement gives the best restricted free agents more freedom. This would seem to be a relatively low-risk proposition for the 49ers as long as Wallace's personality and work ethic checked out.

Mel Kiper Jr. is back with his second 2012 NFL mock draft for the first round.

We discussed the first one about a month ago, summarizing Kiper's thoughts and supplementing them with my own.

This updated look works from Kiper's updated mock, concluding with the St. Louis Rams, who hold the second overall choice.

2. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St.

Kiper's give: Cleveland, Washington or maybe even Miami could slide into this spot if they want to make a move at quarterback, but Blackmon goes here in this mock because I'm not able to reflect trades. St. Louis is in desperate need of a weapon in the passing game, and will get one with one of its first two picks. Remember, it could also lose Brandon Lloyd in free agency.

Sando's take: Lloyd returning seems like a long shot with his preferred coordinator, Josh McDaniels, now in New England. The team's new general manager, Les Snead, was with Atlanta when the Falcons selected wide receivers 29th (Michael Jenkins, 2004), 27th (Roddy White, 2005) and sixth (Julio Jones, 2011). His teams never drafted a wide receiver in the second round. One way or another, the Rams need playmakers. Their needs extend far beyond receiver, however. Perhaps the combine will help better define the Rams' choices. Trading down for additional picks carries appeal in the absence of an obvious non-quarterback option for St. Louis at No. 2. Sending the second pick to the teams Kiper mentioned would be feasible given that all three -- the Browns, Redskins and Dolphins -- play outside the NFC West.

Initial thoughts after ESPN's John Clayton told me that former Jaguars receiver Reggie Williams will participate in the Seahawks' upcoming minicamp on a tryout basis:

• Seahawks coach Pete Carroll appreciated Williams' talents when both were in the Pac-10.
• Williams has some local appeal in Seattle after dominating at the University of Washington.
• Seattle has nothing to lose by giving Williams a shot.
• Williams has much to prove.
• The Seahawks' new regime probably will not rule out players with troubled pasts to the degree previous general manager Tim Ruskell once did.
• Seattle needs help at receiver, pending the addition of Brandon Marshall or another proven talent at the position.

I went through the 2004 class of drafted receivers and noted that, well, it wasn't a great class all the way through. Larry Fitzgerald and Roy Williams are the only guys with Pro Bowls. Lee Evans has done good things for the Bills. A couple of others have shown flashes.

Some background info from Clayton: "The former Lakes High School and former University of Washington star was the ninth player selected in the 2004 draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He caught 189 passes during his Jaguars career. Williams had some off-the-field problems in Jacksonville that included an arrest for marijuana possession, a DWI and another possession charge. Williams didn’t play football in 2009 but he’s ready to return to the field. At the age of 26, Williams welcomed the chance to return to his home turf. To participate in the minicamp, Williams had to sign an injury waiver with the team. If the three-day workout does well, he could be offered a contract."

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Seahawks have drafted three receivers, none earlier than the 197th overall choice, since Tim Ruskell arrived as general manager before the 2005 season.

That would obviously change if the team used the fourth overall choice for Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree later Saturday. I would expect Seattle to select Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry over Crabtree if both were available. I'm not sure what Seattle would do if Curry were already taken while Crabtree and USC quarterback Mark Sanchez remained available.

The last time Ruskell's team used a first-round choice for a receiver, the Falcons selected Michael Jenkins with the 29th choice in 2004. Jenkins averaged 15.5 yards per reception last season. He is a starter, but he has yet to top 777 yards in a season.

The chart shows each of the 16 receivers Ruskell's teams have drafted since 1992. His teams drafted nine of the 16 after the 175th overall choice. None of the 16 has produced a 1,000-yard season. Five of the 16 were from the SEC. Four came from the Big Ten.

Draft Rd. Pick Ruskell's Team Receiver College Conference 1997 1 16 Bucs Reidel Anthony Florida SEC 2004 1 29 Falcons Michael Jenkins Ohio St. Big Ten 1998 2 34 Bucs Jacquez Green Florida SEC 1992 2 44 Bucs Courtney Hawkins Michigan St. Big Ten 1993 3 60 Bucs Lamar Thomas Miami ACC 2002 3 86 Bucs Marquise Walker Michigan Big Ten 1993 4 104 Bucs Horace Copeland Miami ACC 1993 7 176 Bucs Tyree Davis C.Arkansas Southland (I-AA) 1996 6 180 Bucs Nilo Silvan Tennessee SEC 2007 6 197 Seahawks Courtney Taylor Auburn SEC 1997 6 197 Bucs Nigea Carter Michigan St. Big Ten 2007 6 210 Seahawks Jordan Kent Oregon Pac-10 1993 8 220 Bucs Darrick Branch Hawaii WAC 1999 7 240 Bucs Darnell McDonald Kansas St. Big 12 2006 7 249 Seahawks Ben Obomanu Auburn SEC 2002 7 254 Bucs Aaron Lockett Kansas St. Big 12

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Thanks to those of you who dropped by the chat earlier today. I've been going through the mailbag, so let's get right to what's on your minds.

Juice from Colma, Calif., writes: Why isn't anybody making a play for Kurt Warner? He obviously wants another shot to start for at least two more years or at least compete for that spot. Not only can he mentor Smith, the learning curve w/ Martz system is minimal at best since his "salad days' with the greatest show on turf. The organization (49ERS) has invested time & monies in Smith if we get rid of him now it would set back the 49ers between 7 to 10 years to un-due selecting him the #1 overall pick. Heck, we have enough linebackers (which Arizona needs) to put together a trade package for Warner. This team needs a leader on offense to elevate to the next level. Your thoughts.

Mike Sando: I've got a different read. One, Warner might start for the Cardinals this season. They aren't going to donate him to a division rival. Two, the Cardinals like their depth at outside linebacker/defensive end after adding Travis LaBoy and Clark Haggans in free agency. Trades have to make sense for both sides. Getting rid of Warner makes no sense for the Cardinals. They still have to find out if they can win with Matt Leinart. An injury forced Leinart to miss much of last season. Warner filled in and put up big numbers. The Cardinals need Warner.

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David from Manalapan, N.J., writes: Hey mike, a rams fan from NJ here. I haven't gotten a good look at the team yet this year because of where i live but based on the preseason games its going to be the same old story on defense. I know the overall depth on the team is poor which skews some of the preseason numbers. My question is: barring a bunch of injuries of course, do you think this team can finish any better than 7-9? A .500 season is a fair goal considering last year's 3-13 train wreck. Obviously, winning the division should always be the goal for every team but just based on what the box scores are telling me this team will be hard pressed to win 7 games this season. Any insight to how you think the rams will fare this season? thanks -Dave

Mike Sando: First, a confession. I went into last season looking to identify a potential playoff team coming off a nonplayoff season. I narrowed my choices to the Packers and Rams. I went with the Rams. Injuries blew up their roster beyond recognition.

The thought entering this offseason was that a healthy Rams team might have a chance to contend. Then Steven Jackson held out. Injuries depleted depth on both lines, at receiver, tight end and in the secondary.

I'm reassessing the Rams at this point. I do think the Rams have a chance to field a good pass-rushing defensive line. Depth in the back seven is a big concern. The Rams probably need one of their young receivers, Donnie Avery or Keenan Burton, to emerge this season. And of course they need that offensive line to avoid what happened in 2007.

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