The San Francisco 49ers made waves last week by trading draft picks with the Miami Dolphins to move up in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Filed to ESPN: Dolphins trading No. 3 overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers for the No. 12 pick, a 2021 third-round pick (SF’s comp pick for Robert Saleh hiring) and first-round picks in 2022 and 2023, per sources.
Blockbuster deal with massive ramifications for years to come. pic.twitter.com/nRLMUaWGo5
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 26, 2021
Moving up nine spots in the first round in a draft where quarterbacks are predicted to be selected by the first four teams is significant.
It indicates that the 49ers are hoping to draft a quarterback, but which one are they looking at?
Chris Simms of NBC Sports believes it is Mac Jones.
“Kyle Shanahan trying to control his own fate. You trade up to 3 for a QB who is NFL-ready right now, not a project. And to me that says Mac Jones.”
49ers-Dolphins…Kyle Shanahan trying to control his own fate. You trade up to 3 for a QB who is NFL-ready right now, not a project. And to me that says Mac Jones.
— Chris Simms (@CSimmsQB) March 26, 2021
Jones’ game does fit into a Kyle Shanahan system.
Simms, who is a friend of Shanahan’s, elaborated on how Jones fits with the 49ers.
“Where Mac fits that offense perfectly is that Kyle will give him one or two clues about what the defense will do on a play, and the results will be top notch for Mac when he executes the play. He has Joe Burrow-type reading of the defense. Plus, other than Zach Wilson, Mac is the best bullseye-thrower in the draft.”
Mac Jones Pro Days
Alabama has two Pro Days.
One was last week.
Jones was throwing to underclassmen at that session.
Mac Jones offered this assessment of his performance.
“It was a little different than a typical pro day script just because of the people we had out there. We had to use two underclassmen and obviously Miller, Carl and Josh did a great job. But I feel like I could’ve thrown it better. It is what it is. I have one more pro day, got to come out and show what I got.”
The second Pro Day is Tuesday, March 30, and 49ers brass will be in attendance.
John Lynch and Kyle Shannahan will be at Mac Jones Pro Day over Justin Fields
— Main Team (@MainTeamSports) March 29, 2021
Trying to read the tea leaves here is practically impossible.
Justin Fields has ties to Kyle Shanahan from Fields attending a QB Collective Camp so perhaps Shanahan is foregoing his Pro Day because he knows what Fields can do.
He needs to see what Mac Jones is capable of.
Conspiracy Theories
Last week, we reported that the New England Patriots are interested in Mac Jones.
Also last week, 49ers GM John Lynch proclaimed that Jimmy G will be the 49ers quarterback in 2021.
ICYMI via @clarkjudgeTOF:
49ers’ GM John Lynch: “No Doubt” Garoppolo Will Be 49ers’ Quarterback For 2021 via @FP_Coverage https://t.co/WqJuPEGzio
— Full Press NFL (@FullPressNFL) March 26, 2021
The 49ers gave up a lot of trade capital to get from 12th to 3rd in this draft so it does make people wonder if Jimmy G could now be traded to his former team, the New England Patriots.
However, there is never just one conspiracy theory; this is just one of many.
The 49ers’ efficient financial management has left all options at their fingertips….
Option 1: Keep Garoppolo and a rookie QB, picked at #3
Option 2: Trade Garoppolo, start the rook
Option 3: Keep Garoppolo and shock everyone (another trade? + Sewell)https://t.co/F5ulLwQ7q9
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) March 26, 2021
Could It Be Someone Besides Mac Jones?
Because this is a quarterback-heavy draft, the 49ers may not be locked on Mac Jones.
Everyone knows that the Jacksonville Jaguars are taking Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence with the first overall pick.
The New York Jets with the second overall pick appear to be leaning toward BYU’s Zach Wilson.
That means when the 49ers are up with the third pick, they could choose between Ohio State’s Justin Fields, North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, or Jones.
The good news is that the 2021 NFL Draft is one month away so we will soon know which quarterback the 49ers are going to select.
NEXT: Should The 49ers Trade For QB Sam Darnold?