GT, I don't buy the "can only afford 5 or 6 players" line. Basically because it depends on when the player is taken and what position he plays and what player he displaces. It comes down to affording 52 guys. For instance, let's say we picked Barrett Jones in the 3rd (I'd be dancing in the hot Phoenix streets). As a 3rd-rounder, his salary will not be a huge hit this year. Next year Goodwin will be a UFA--and gone if we have Jones on the roster. Therefore, going forward, our salary cap situation would be better (in that trade off). If we were to draft a second safety in the 7th and he beats out Robinson, that would not cost anything in terms of salary cap. And let's not forget that of last year's draft class, only James has a particularly comfortable roster spot. Fleming and Johnson both basically redshirted last year with injuries. Looney and Robinson showed very little to speak of, and we know that Jenkins was a non-entity. Let's say we draft two receivers. Last year we kept 5 wideouts (Crab, Moss, Williams, Manningham, and Jenkins) and 3 TEs (Vernon, Walker, and Celek). Moss and Walker are gone. They need to be replaced. Draft picks might be the ones, and another might beat out Jenkins. Or Manningham might not be able to make it back. The writer is assuming there are only 5 or 6 guys who might not make the team. There are actually quite a few. I think players could make the following roster spots:

1-2 D-linemen. Only 3 of the 5 down linemen who were on the squad last year remain, and we added Dorsey. That leaves one spot that must be filled.

1-2 safeties. Right now, besides Whitner, we have Dahl, Spillman, Darcel McBath, and Robinson. Does anyone really think one or more of those guys couldn't be replaced?

1-2 corners. Parrish Cox and Tramaine Brock are hardly locks. And what with his off-field issues and lousy SB, I suspect that Culliver is not exactly sitting pretty.

2-3 receivers/TEs. Moss and Walker are gone. Manningham and Williams are coming off of bad injuries. Jenkins did nothing. Celek blocks. I can see 2-3 guys fitting in here.

1 RB. Dixon is fine, but he ain't irreplaceable.

3rd string QB. Do we have one?

And of course you always put a guy or two on the PS. It would not be a stretch to have 6-8 players make the active roster.

And let's not forget that we are required to draft players with compensatory picks.

Ultimately, we go in with 13 picks. I am sure we will move up at some point and probably trade back and get some picks for next year at some point. But I would predict that we draft at least 9 players. And it makes sense when you don't have a lot of openings, too, because you just can't predict it well enough.