49ers: Best picks and busts at No. 3 in NFL Draft history

It's hard to predict what will become of the third pick in the NFL draft, which the 49ers will make Thursday.

Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, tackles Joe Thomas and Anthony Munoz, quarterbacks Steve McNair and Matt Ryan and running backs Barry Sanders and Curt Warner are some of the best picks from the No. 3 spot in the NFL Draft.

Now for the bad news. Quarterbacks Joey Harrington, Akili Smith and Heath Shuler were all No. 3 picks back in their day and didn’t measure up.

What will happen Thursday when the Niners turn in their card? Will he be a boom or bust? Only time will tell.

Here is a list of past players selected with the third pick in the NFL Draft.

3rd Overall Draft Picks

2013: Dolphins – Oregon DE/OLB Dion Jordan

2012: Browns – Alabama RB Trent Richardson

2011: Bills – Alabama DE/DT Marcel Dareus

2010: Buccaneers – Oklahoma DT Gerald McCoy

2009: Chiefs – LSU DE Tyson Jackson

2008: Falcons – Boston College QB Matt Ryan

2007: Browns – Wisconsin OT Joe Thomas

2006: Titans – Texas QB Vince Young

2005: Browns – Michigan WR Braylon Edwards

2004: Cardinals – Pittsburgh WR Larry Fitzgerald

2003: Texans – Miami WR Andre Johnson

2002: Lions – Oregon QB Joey Harrington

2001: Browns – Florida DT Gerard Warren

2000: Washington – Alabama T Chris Samuels

1999: Bengals – Oregon QB Akili Smith

1998: Cardinals – Florida State DE Andre Wadsworth

1997: Seahawks – Ohio State CB Shawn Springs

1996: Cardinals – Illinois DE Simeon Rice

1995: Oilers – Alcorn State QB Steve McNair

1994: Washington – Tennessee QB Heath Shuler

1993: Cardinals – Georgia RB Garrison Hearst

1992: Rams – Pittsburgh DT Sean Gilbert

1991: Falcons – Nebraska CB Bruce Pickens

1990: Seahawks – Miami DT Cortez Kennedy

1989: Lions – Oklahoma State RB Barry Sanders

1988: Lions – Miami S Bennie Blades

1987: Oilers – Miami RB Alonzo Highsmith

1986: Oilers – Purdue QB Jim Everett

1985: Oilers – Texas A&M DT Ray Childress

1984: Giants – Michigan State OLB Carl Banks

1983: Seahawks – Penn State RB Curt Warner

1982: Browns – USC OLB Chip Banks

1981: Jets – UCLA RB Freeman McNeil

1980: Bengals – USC OT Anthony Munoz