With The First Pick
Fansided

What Could’ve Been: 10 NFL draft picks whose careers had so much promise

By Anthony Pastore

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 16: Chris Borland #50 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a tackle against the New York Giants in the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium on November 16, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 16: Chris Borland #50 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a tackle against the New York Giants in the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium on November 16, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 16: Chris Borland #50 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a tackle against the New York Giants in the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium on November 16, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 16: Chris Borland #50 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a tackle against the New York Giants in the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium on November 16, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

#8 LB Chris Borland: (2014, 49ers, 3rd round)

With Navarro Bowman rehabbing an ACL injury the 49ers drafted Chris Borland in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Borland, seen as an undersized, scrappy tackling machine, figured to add depth to an already elite linebacker unit.

With Bowman already down and Patrick Willis being limited to six games, Borland was thrust into the starting lineup and delivered in a huge way. The rookie amassed 107 tackles, 2 INTs, and a sack in 14 games (8 starts.) For context, Borland finished 4th in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting behind megastars Aaron Donald, C.J. Mosley and Khalil Mack. He appeared primed for a long Pro Bowl career.

Then out of nowhere on March 16, 2015, Borland announced his retirement from the NFL citing concern for his long term health.

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