"When we drafted guys on the first day of the draft in the past, we knew they had a really good chance to start because there was really nobody in front of them," said McCloughan, the 49ers' vice-president of player personnel. "What we're building now is the fact that they've got to come in here and win the starting job. It's not going to be handed to him. Honestly, I feel we have competition at every position."

The team's roster was so depleted when McCloughan and coach Mike Nolan arrived in 2005 that players from their first two draft classes quickly, or instantly, became starters. That was the case with quarterback Alex Smith, tight end Vernon Davis, linebacker Manny Lawson and defensive end Melvin Oliver.

On Saturday, the 49ers selected Mississippi linebacker Patrick Willis and Central Michigan tackle Joe Staley in the first round and Washington State wide receiver Jason Hill and Florida defensive end Ray McDonald in the third round. Nolan and McCloughan have said they're counting on their four top picks to make an impact and push for playing time, but they expect that all four will begin their careers as backups to incumbent players.

Unlike recent seasons, when personnel decisions were fairly clear-cut, McCloughan said he anticipates some tough calls when the 49ers make final roster cuts. He expressed great satisfaction with his 2007 draft class, saying, "If you had told me we had gotten these nine guys before the draft, I would have done backflips.

The roster upgrade and added depth from the 49ers' heavy investment in free agency and the draft, in particular on defense, is a key element in their transition to a 3-4 base defense.

It is also crucial in what has been the 49ers' climb from despair to respectability to contention in the NFC West.

"Right now, if we stay healthy, I feel we can go out and compete week in and week out, especially on the road, which we have not been able to the last few years," McCloughan said. "I feel even if we do get a couple injuries, we have enough depth now where we can still go out and function as a good team.

"But there's a lot of good teams out there. We need to become a great team....We've won 11 games in two years. That's not good enough."

Also, before finalizing the trade with Seattle for wide receiver Darrell Jackson, the 49ers talked to the Raiders about acquiring Randy Moss.