Trevor Lawrence has been expected to lead off the draft for a while now, while the Jets’ connection to BYU’s Zach Wilson continues to gain steam. Although the Jets are not a lock to move on from Sam Darnold and take Wilson, they appear to be on the doorstep of such a consensus. The draft suspense may, then, begin with the 49ers.
Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch have each endorsed Jimmy Garoppolo as the planned 2021 starter, and the 49ers are sending out signals they do not expect to trade their incumbent passer. But the team parted with tremendous future draft capital to climb nine spots to No. 3 overall. The 49ers should be widely expected to draft a quarterback in the first round for the first time since they chose Alex Smith first overall in 2005. Which one will they select?
Only two drafts — 1971 and 1999 — have begun with three consecutive teams taking quarterbacks. With the Falcons connected to choosing a Matt Ryan heir apparent, this draft could be the first to start with four straight QBs. Should Lawrence and Wilson head to the Jaguars and Jets, the 49ers will have their pick of seemingly Justin Fields, Trey Lance or Mac Jones. With a Garoppolo trade seemingly now in play, one of these three could have the keys to the San Francisco’s offense as soon as this coming season.
Fields has resided on this tier the longest, being the 1B option to Lawrence going into the 2020 season. Dwayne Haskins‘ Ohio State successor did not do too much to ding his stock, even though multiple choppy performances did occur this past season. Fields boasted a 41-3 TD-INT ratio in 2019 and dominated in the Buckeyes’ rout of Clemson in the College Football Playoff this past season. That said, Hall of Fame scout Gil Brandt does not expect the 49ers to go with Fields, whom some teams have well outside the top 10 on their respective boards.
Fields’ final college QB opponent, Jones has received glowing endorsements from soon-to-be first-round picks DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle. The ex-Crimson Tide pass catchers preferred Jones to the Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa, and the former completed a stunning 77% of his passes, averaged 11.2 yards per attempt and finished a 13-game season with 41 touchdown passes. Scouts Inc., however, has the less mobile Jones well below Fields and Lance, slotting the one-year Alabama starter 28th overall.
Scouts Inc. rates Lance as this draft’s third-best QB prospect, placing him 12th (to Fields’ 13th position). The North Dakota State prodigy profiles as one of the strangest prospects to ever land on the top-10 radar. Division I-FCS players typically do not enter drafts early; Lance put his name in this year’s draft after one full season as the Bison’s starter. While that season featured eye-popping production (28 TD passes, no INTs, 1,100 rushing yards) and resulted in North Dakota State’s latest title, a team using a top-five pick on an FCS prospect with one season of experience and no Scouting Combine to further judge him would be a historic move.
Where will the 49ers go at No. 3? How will they proceed with Garoppolo and his $26.4MM cap number? Vote in PFR’s latest poll (link for app users) and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.
Trey Lance for sure.
1. Lawrence
2. Wilson
3. Lance
4. Pitts
5. Sewell
6. Chase
7. Waddle
8. Fields
9. Parsons
10. Surtain
11. Paye
12. Smith
13. Slater
14. Rousseau
15. Farley
16. Vera-Tucker
17. JOK
18. Harris
19. Jones
I agree. Technically jones fits their system the best but you can’t tell me he was in danger of being gone after 3. The only way they traded the future away to move up that far has to be to get Lance
I just don’t see the Patriots not taking QB Jones at 15 in favor of a CB. They just loaded up their offense for multiple years and Cam is not a shoo-in to start with his contract deal at $3.5 million base. They don’t see to trust Stidham. Jones is their type of guy – pocket passer, lesser mobility with off the charts football IQ.
If Jones is there at 15 Patriots will jump all over him
Idk CB is also a hole. Gilmore is in the last year of his deal, and outside him they could do with more help. Farley is the second best corner in the draft, you sure up that spot your got a very very good roster.
Personally I don’t rate Jones that much. He’s a pocket passer okay but he had the cleanest pocket, with amazing talent around him which made him look better than he is. Even bad QBs in great situations do well.
Although I can see them drafting him I think it would be a mistake. You never have a draft with 5/5 QBs taken in the first round all working out, atleast 1 of them is a bust/flop. I think Jones is that guy.
I think the Pats will continue to draft the best player on the boards. And I a QB like Jones or Lance is available, they’ll go after them.
I hope you’re 100% right. If the Eagles trade out of 6 to get 12, still draft Smith, swap a 2021 5th round pick for a 4th and get a 2022 1st round pick. Howie Roseman is a genius. That’s why the Eagles aren’t drafting Smith.
Wait and see saltz. I think either Waddle or Smith will be available at 12 and either or would be a great pick up for the Eagles.
I have Penny Sewel going #1
Your probably the only person in the world
Sewel doesn’t have Sewel going first.
If Lions take Waddle I will vomit
I think they’re taking Mac Jones
I think you PLAYED that roll in that movie, hmmm DUMB n DUMBER!! Classic movie but really? Bro you will not give up 3 first round picks a 3rd this year, for Mac Jones. Who only played 1 year of college football as a starter in 2020 and after Tua got hurt in 2019 finished out the year. Looks good but, every QB does at Bama. They always get 5 star players. 49ers are taking Lance or somehow if Wilson’s there! That only 2 prospects buddy. Have a blessed day everyone. =) (;
Jcool, you posted Haworth “played that role in Dumb and Dumber”. There were OBVIOUSLY 2 dumb characters. So there is no “that role”. So to clarify, which one is Haworth? Is he Dumb? Or Dumber? Let’s assume you meant that Haworth played Dumb. That would make Haworth as intelligent as Jim Carrey or Jeff Daniel’s because I don’t know which character was Dumb and which one was Dumber. It’s my guess that either actor is at least of average intelligence. So in your post Jcool, did you mean Haworth matched one of the characters, both characters ( remember, you did say “that role) or is it possible that perhaps Jcool, you in fact could be Dumber than Haworth? BTW, Chris Simms believes they’ll take Jones as well. So maybe Haworth is not so dumb. I disagree with Haworth and Simms. And that’s all you needed to say Jcool but instead you chose to insult another poster while at the same time showing your own stupidity. Have a blessed day!
Sewell to protect Jimmy GQ
I’m high on Wilson as well. I’d have to imagine the 49ers have a couple QBs on their radar. If I’m Lynch I’m praying the Jets don’t snag Wilson. The 49ers did well with another BYU QB who went on to the HOF.
I be happy as long as it ain’t Mac Jones but hoping it’s Justin Fields but it would be fine with Trey Lance
have a hunch its between lance and jamarr chase, but i think fields would be the best fit in shanahans offense
They’re taking a QB – period.
You don’t give up that type of draft capital for a WR.
Yeah 100%, Chase would be a great fit in SF but they gave up a lot, there definitely taking a QB. theres been rumours about wanting Watson and shopping Jimmy G, and even the fact they are extending everyone to huge deals, means they are going cheap at QB.
Julio Jones says hello
That’s a massive haul ti give up just to roll the dice on Lance or Fields. I’m surprised they gave all that up without moving up into the top 2. The Bears and 49ers will never live down passing on Mahomes for Solomon Thomas and Mitch Trubisky. No rings anytime soon for either franchise.
I forgot about SF taking Solomon in that draft class.
Maybe the niners know they can get Wilson at 3, they do have a lot of connections with the Jets so maybe a certain head coach has let them know they are sticking with Darnold.
That’s what I’ve been saying. I think they know the Jets are sticking with Darnold. I think they tried to trade for Darnol and were told they they are sticking with him so they know they are getting Darnold help on offense which is why they traded to 3 to get Wilson. Just don’t see them going all the way to 3 for someone they college gotten later in the draft. Also Lynch showed up to watch Wilson, something he hasn’t done for anyone else’s pro day yet. To me, makes a lot of sense and I feel really strongly they end up with Wilson. People are taking that relationship with Saleh for granted IMO
If your theory is correct I would think the Jets trade out of number #2, stockpile draft picks and still get their guy. Obviously a team needs to want to make that trade with the Jets. I just find it hard to believe the 49ers know what the Jets are doing in the draft.
only thing they could know is Jets will draft Wilson Anything else would be too hard to be sure of
Agreed. The idea of the Jets not trading Darnold AND not trading out of the #2 spot is hard to believe.
They don’t have to trade Darnold right away. Even after the draft they will need more than one QB on the roster. I don’t get why the Jets have to trade him. New coaches want a look at him. Probably should have done it by now if they were going to do it.
Exactly, SF knows what the Jets are doing
It’s no coincidence they traded up during Wilson’s Pro Day.
If that were the case, then the current Jets coach might very well be the ex Jets coach before he ever coached a game….his check has a Jet emblem on it now not a 49’ers emblem…..his allegiance and total responsibility is to the Jets and to bring them to the Super Bowl….any tip of his hand would have to be in response to some benefit the Jets would receive from the niners.
Connections at this level are worth millions of dollars and you don’t drop hints about your draft intentions because you used to be affiliated with a team.
NBA does it all the time with sign and trades, usually it’s for money reasons but KD did it for the Warriors so they could get an all-star player out of him leaving. Why can’t it happen in the nfl?
KD and Warriors/Nets made that deal because under the NBA CBA the Warriors being his current team had the ability to offer him the most money. So the Warriors essentially signed him to a max contract with the understanding he’d be sent to the Nets. Had he just signed with the Nets outright he could not have signed to max money that’s just the way the system works. KD did that to make the most he could while playing where he wanted to. It wasn’t designed as some kind of gift to the Warriors
If the Jets don’t take a QB they are absolute fools. Darnold won’t have a great year like people think. Then they will either be force to extend him, try their luck in FA or the draft again. The draft next year has a weak QB pool and I can’t see them finding a QB in FA.
Jets have to take a QB idc who but cmon.
Asking as it isn’t Mac Jones they will be fine
Sorry but none of the other QB’s are any better. Honestly, they have bust written all over them.
Safe to say the teams with a 4th round rating on Fields is well outside the top 10. Any team drafting Dwayne Haskins 2.0 in the first will be drafting another QB with a high first pick in a couple of years
they’re crazy if they take a QB and its not Fields. same goes for NYJ but that’s water under the bridge now.
I think they draft a punter or long snapper. Every team needs a good one of each.
They drafted a punter in 2019, but they did struggle at long snapper, you might be onto something there.
Q- “Who Will 49ers Draft At No. 3?”
A- “Whoever Jets fans will rue for a decade or two that NYJ didn’t take at #2.”
Most likely.
Rare for a trade like this to be for a Non-QB. There’s no Julio Jones in this draft class. There’s no Ricky Williams. Usually this type of trade is for a QB. Lance seems to be the popular pick. Fields isn’t Haskins tho. Same school doesn’t mean same player.
If the Jets do the smart thing and take Sewell and move Becton to RT, then the 9ers go Wilson. Jets could move back too. And still take a QB. Depends how desperate another team gets.
Yeah same school doesn’t mean same player.
I think people are just scared that this draft class has 5 “first round rated” QBs and historically atleast 1 has to fail. It seems like Lawrence is a sure thing, Wilson isn’t being discredited yet but with the others they are questioning it.
Fields same school as Haskins blah blah blah
Lance, not a lot of throws being made per game and kinda an under the radar dude. High potential but could be a bust
And Jones, had the best pocket and best receivers and best coaches around him. Does that mean in the next level he won’t be so good?
Personally I think Jones will be a career back up/bust and I actually think Wilson could be a bust. He had the luck of beating very easy teams which makes him and his numbers look amazing. He threw 4TDs against the 2-10 Texas State team then threw 1 TD and 1 INT to the 11-1 costal Carolina. I just think going to the NFL say the Jets take him, he’s going to be on a weak team versing much better teams no cakewalks. He could seriously struggle
It certainly better not be Jones!
I hope its Wilson, but the draft is a month away…you don’t make this trade thinking you know what NYJ are doing…you don’t! They could get blown away and trade the pick.
I predict it is Trey Lance and JGQ stays
However, if it is Wilson, then JGQ gets moved to NE for a 5th.
Fields if Wilson is gone. You would Not have traded away so much capital for a QB (Jones) that was in most Mock Drafts between 15 and 32.
“With the Falcons connected to choosing a Matt Ryan heir apparent”
I know this is about the 49ers, but imo, if I’m the Falcons, I’m drafting Sewell or Pitts. I get that Ryan will be 36 this year, but he doesn’t really seem to be slowing down. I could easily see him playing well for three or more years. Should you really draft a QB that likely wouldn’t play for a couple of seasons? If they plan on it, then they should have just traded Ryan and done a full rebuild.
And QB play seems to be the least of their problems. Holes all over the defense and they need OL help. Another playmaker (like Pitts) wouldn’t hurt, either.
I agree that if they were planning to take a QB, they should have started tearing down. However, I don’t think Sewell or Pitts is their best nob-QB option. They should trade back and get defense. They have plenty invested in the offense. The defense has been their weakness for years.
I’d go for that. No idea what return they’d get, but if they can move back a little and get a good haul, they should.
One mock I saw has Atlanta trading back twice with Denver & NE, landing them at #15 with 3 seconds. I feel like that’d be a smart play. Take an OL at #15, then get 2 defenders and another OL in the 2nd round. That’d be a lot more beneficial to Atlanta than taking a QB. You just have to believe Ryan can play at a high level for 2 more years since next year’s QB class looks thin, which he probably can with good protection.
Answer to the question. A bust. They are going to reach for a QB, either Wilson or Lance and they will fail and set the franchise back nearly a decade. And it will be awesome.
*Checks username* ahh ok this one can be ignored.
lol have fun watching your franchise crumble after they trade the only good QB in their teams history because they refused to build his offensive line for some stupid reason.
They take Fields, and trade Jimmy G to NE, for their 2022 and 2023 1’s.
lol. I truly hope that was satire as there is a better chance Bill signs me than giving up 2 1st’s for Jimmy
They will trade away the third pick and sign Tom Savage.
I can’t help but feel like they wouldn’t do this unless they were getting Wilson… or is it that the Jets really are going to take him and then we have only one guy we are still comfortable with. Say Lance. I am holding onto hope that the Jets have done mostly nothing to address that offensive line and Sewell makes sense. Just hoping.
Okay whoever thinks that they aren’t taking Lance or even Wilson if the jets don’t bro you will not give up 3 first round picks a 3rd this year, for Mac Jones. Who only played 1 year of college football as a starter in 2020 and after Tua got hurt in 2019 finished out the year. Looks good but, every QB does at Bama. They always get 5 star players. 49ers are taking Lance or somehow if Wilson’s there! That only 2 prospects buddy. Have a blessed day everyone. =) (;
Buddy?? Who are you posting to? Thx for posting the same thing twice. Have a blessed day.