49ers trade up, select QB C.J. Beathard in third round of 2017 NFL Draft

C.J. BEATHARD
Position: Quarterback
College: Iowa
Height: 6-2
Weight: 219
Selection: Third round, No. 104 overall

SANTA CLARA -- The 49ers traded back into the end of the third round to select a quarterback to join Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley on the 49ers' roster.

General manager John Lynch's fourth trade of the draft netted the team the grandson of legendary NFL personnel man Bobby Beathard. His grandson, C.J., joins the 49ers after a four-year career at Iowa. Beathard completed 58.6 percent of his passes last season with 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Coach Kyle Shanahan believed Beathard was the best fit for his offense, and Beathard said he was excited about learning the 49ers' offensive scheme.

“I think I’ll fit in very well," Beathard said on a conference call with Bay Area reporters. "I come from a background, a football background, so I know a lot about coaches and things like that. And I have a lot of, you know my grandpa and uncles have a lot of great things to say about coach Shanahan.

"And having watched his schemes and offensive philosophy and style, I think I’ll fit in very well with that. And I’m just looking forward to getting there and practicing and getting ready to work.”

Beathard was not generally expected to be chosen within the first two days of the draft. He was the sixth quarterback selected, falling behind Mitch Trubisky, Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson, Deshone Kizer and Davis Webb.

"I’m just thankful the 49ers and coach Shanahan’s staff you know, saw the potential in me and they believe in me enough to give me this opportunity. And like I told them, they won’t regret it," Beathard said.

The 49ers traded up with the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings had the No. 104 pick, and called the 49ers to see if they were interested in a trade. After some consideration, the 49ers decided to move up from No. 109 while also giving the Vikings a seventh-round pick at No. 219.

Beathard was chosen before any of the draft prognosticators had him being selected.

"I don’t really pay attention to the mock drafts very much," Beathard said. "I had a lot of communication with various teams. I’m confident in my abilities and you know I’m just thankful the 49ers and coach Shanahan’s staff saw the potential in me and they believe in me enough to give me this opportunity. And like I told them, they won’t regret it.”

Shanahan said the 49ers "had an idea" Beathard would be selected in the fourth round. The 49ers were certainly going to pick him in the fourth round, but they moved up to the end of the third round just to be able to have a good night of sleep.

"Might he have been there at 109? That’s what we had to weigh," Lynch said. "But at the end of the day, we felt like it was worth it to be able to go to bed knowing that we had a player that we liked and want the opportunity develop at the quarterback position."

And that's what Shanahan plans on doing. He said Beathard is not coming to the team this season to compete with Hoyer for the starting job.

"We’re bringing him in here to develop him and give him a chance, but just like any other position, everyone competes," Shanahan said. "Brian is our starting quarterback and, right now, Matt Barkley is our second. And I look at him to come in and be our third with us only having three on the roster.

"By no means did we come into this draft thinking we’re going to get a guy to compete with Brian."

Shanahan said Beathard and Pitt quarterback Nathan Peterman were the two quarterbacks in the draft who ran offenses in college most similar to the offense he is installing with the 49ers.

"One thing that helps is being able to see guys play the way you’re going to ask them to play," Shanahan said. "It helps being at Iowa and watching the system he’s in. It’s easier to see to watch him over the years. He’s a three-year starter. He’s led his team to a bunch of wins, especially in 2015 when they had a better team and he played unbelievable."

As a junior at Iowa, Beathard completed 61.6 percent of his pass attempts for 2,809 yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions. 

"He’s a leader. He’s tough. He processes very well," Shanahan said. "He's extremely accurate and he lives and dies football."