Why 49ers now could be pushed off taking 2021 first-round QB

Share

The 49ers' last-second 23-20 win Sunday over the Los Angeles Rams quickly flipped the script for Niners fans. With a loss, all attention would have turned to the 2021 NFL Draft. But the victory has the 49ers back in the playoff hunt, restoring hope for The Faithful. 

With a 5-6 record, the 49ers head into Week 13 as the No. 10 seed in the NFC. They're just one win behind the 6-5 Arizona Cardinals for the seventh, and final, spot in the playoffs. Racking up wins obviously is the goal for coach Kyle Shanahan and Co. At the same, the 49ers' latest win could hurt their chances in landing a quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft.

After beating the Rams, the 49ers fell back two more spots in next year's draft order. They now own the No. 16 pick, which puts them in a tricky situation. CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson has five quarterbacks -- Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance and Mac Jones -- all being taken before the 49ers are on the clock. The Athletic's Dane Brugler has four QBs picked in the top eight and Jones going No. 31 overall to the New Orleans Saints.

Both mock drafts have the 49ers taking a cornerback in the first round, which makes plenty of sense as San Francisco has five cornerbacks set to become unrestricted free agents. 

The 49ers' draft plan could come down to three things: How much they believe in Jimmy Garoppolo, what they consider their top needs and the availability of Jones. 

Download and subscribe to the 49ers Talk Podcast

Shanahan has said he expects Garoppolo to be his starting quarterback next season. Garoppolo did lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl last year in his first full season as a starting QB. He also didn't have a full offseason this year and hasn't been on the field much with George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk all active thanks to an injury-riddled 2020.

But the 49ers also know Garoppolo's limitations, and he becomes a very expensive option going forward as general manager John Lynch must figure out how to keep his stars in the Bay Area. There remains hope that Garoppolo could return from his high ankle sprain for the 49ers' final game or two, which would help the franchise evaluate the QB position going forward. 

Shanahan and Lynch also truly might feel quarterback is the 49ers' most prominent position of need. Like we already stated above, this team could be looking at an empty slate of cornerbacks next season. Richard Sherman made an immediate impact upon his return against the Rams, and the 49ers know they have to have a strong group of corners in order to compete in a passing league. Both cornerback and interior offensive linemen could be a more pressing need than finding a young signal-caller. 

This all brings us back to Jones. It seems more than likely Lawrence, Fields, Wilson and Lance all will be gone in the top half of the draft. So, where does Jones fit in the draft? 

While Jones isn't the athlete that the top four QB options in the '21 draft are, he deserves plenty of respect. The heir apparent to Tua Tagovailoa is coming off an Iron Bowl win where he threw for 302 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. The junior has 2,728 passing yards, 23 TDs and three interceptions in eight games this year. He isn't going to beat you in a foot race, but he is going to burn you with his perfect deep pass. 

RELATED: Shanahan reveals 49ers' emergency QB after Broncos' debacle

The best-case scenario for the 49ers could be finding a cornerback or reliable offensive lineman in the first round of the draft, and hoping teams are turned off by Jones' lack of athleticism and he falls to the second round. Shanahan also could be intrigued by Florida QB Kyle Trask, another late first-round or Day 2 quarterback. Jones and Trask very well could be the top two Heisman favorites right now. 

Winning is the name of the game, and the 49ers are getting healthier at the right time. They'll do whatever it takes to sneak into the playoffs and make another push for the Super Bowl. When it comes to the draft, however, things have become a bit more complicated.

Contact Us