1978: 12 picks, best pick was Todd Christensen and he didn't do anything here. Only player from that drfat that amounted to anything for us was 11th rd pick Dennis Thurman.
1979: 15 picks, with top pick Robert Shaw undone by knee injuries, only Doug Cosbie and Ron Springs really panned out of this draft.
1980: 11 picks (no 1st or 2nd rd) Kurt Petersen was a decent player, but also undone by injuries. 2nd team all pro during 1982 season but then went downhill. Timmy Newsome and Gary Hogeboom only other notable picks.
1981: 14 picks..Howard Richards...inconsistent player, also injury prone. 7th rd pick Ron Fellows was probably the best pick.
1982: 16 picks, including the infamous 1st on Rod Hill. Not a single quality player in the draft
1983: 12 picks, used a 1st on Jim Jeffcoat who was a good player, but passed on Dan Marino. No other quality picks. 2nd rounder Mike Walter ended up playing for the other team (literally and figuratively) and was a decent starter for Niners.
1984: Had 18 picks. Billy Cannon career ruined with injury. 6th pick Eugene Lockhart was best player picked. Other notables: Victor Scott, Steve DeOssie, Steve Pelleur, and Olympian Carl Lewis
1985: 15 picks, 4th rd pick Crawford Ker was a decent starter for a few yrs at OL, this of course was the draft that netted us Herschel Walker in the 5th as well. No other quality players drafted.
1986: 14 picks. Top pick Mike Sherrard appeared to be the real deal, but multiple broken legs ruined him and he ended up a waste (as it turns out, him getting us injured did in part help us get Michael Irvin in 1988. We might not have drafted Irvin had Sherrard stayed healthy). Not one other player of any decency drafted.
1987: 12 picks, top pick Danny Noonan was never a difference maker but was a decent starter. They did draft Kelvin Martin and Kevin Gogan, who ended up quality players.
1988: The only really good draft Brandt had after the last super bowl winner (1977). Michael Irvin #1, Ken Norton #2 and late rd pick (11th rd) DT Chad Hennings ended up being a major steal.
The above is the recipe for how to ruin a franchise.