With the 40th pick in the third round (104 overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers have selected Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard. The 49ers traded their second pick in the fourth round (109) and first pick in the seventh round (219) to the Minnesota Vikings in order to move back into the end of the third round.
Beathard is the grandson of former NFL general manager Bobby Beathard. He was a redshirt freshman in 2013 and didn't see significant playing time until the next year when he appeared in nine games with one start. He was the Hawkeyes' starter in 2015 as a junior and ended up as the team's MVP after completing 61.6 percent of his passes for 2,809 pass yards, 17 touchdowns, and five interceptions. During his senior year, he completed 56.5 percent of his passes for 1,929 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
"I'll give my everything to not let them down," Beathard said following the selection by the 49ers. "They won't regret it."
Beathard ranked as the 243rd-best player available in ESPN analyst Mel Kiper's big board and was ranked as the 10th-best quarterback available according to Pro Football Focus.
Beathard becomes the third quarterback on the 49ers roster. During the first two days of free agency, the team added former Chicago Bears quarterbacks Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley. None of San Francisco's quarterbacks from last season were brought back following the hiring of new general manager John Lynch and new head coach Kyle Shanahan.
NFL.com projected that Beathard would be selected in rounds 6 or 7 of the NFL Draft.
Pro Football Focus stats to know: Ranked 13th in the draft class in adjusted completion percentage at 73.5 percent. Had the third-highest percentage of drops in the draft class at 9.1 percent.
"Pro-style quarterback who dealt with nagging injuries to key pass catchers and himself in 2016. His 2015 tape was more impressive, but deep-ball accuracy issues, poor pocket awareness, and unnecessary hesitation as a passer shows up in both seasons. Beathard plays checkers with safeties rather than chess, which could always hinder his ability to attack down the field with success. Could be a career backup who finds himself in the action at some point down the road."
"Beathard is a solid dink-and-dunk/timing passer with a terrific understanding of the position. He's only fit for certain systems but is worth having on the sideline as another pair of eyes."
"Beathard's arm is very good, as he can make the majority of NFL throws. He is a fastball thrower, with little to no finesse in his game of being a true passer. When he is playing in rhythm and knows where to go with the ball, he delivers on time and accurately. Certain throws required to throw up and over defenders he struggles with, as he needs a clear lane to throw through. The biggest questions come with his feel in the pocket and ability to see the field clearly to consistently get through reads, as well as decision-making particularly late in the down. Beathard's arm and overall game is enough to warrant a late-round selection and a chance to develop as a third-string QB."
Measurables
Height: 6-2
Weight: 219 lbs.
Arm length: 30 5/8 inches
Hand length: 9 3/8 inches
49ers hosting Iowa TE Erick All on pre-draft visit
By David Bonilla
Apr 15
According to Damond Talbot of NFL Draft Diamonds, the San Francisco 49ers are hosting former Iowa tight end Erick All on a pre-draft visit.
"Erick All is a beast on the field, I would not be shocked to see a team like the Niners draft him and beat teams with him like they do with [TE George] Kittle week in and week out," Talbot wrote.
STOP SLEEPING ON Erick All! | Former Iowa Tight End has had 6 Top-30 visits https://t.co/BdgyvUeUps All has Top-30 visits with the
7-round mock draft from The Athletic sees 49ers fortifying defense early
By David Bonilla
Apr 17
Analyst Dane Brugler recently revealed his seven-round mock draft for The Athletic, forecasting all 257 selections in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, set to kick off next week.
"Piecing together a mock like this is time consuming, but I enjoy the exercise, because it allows me to focus on each team's needs, organizational trends and prospect-team pairings that make sense based on '30' visits, league buzz and overall interest," Brugler wrote.
Most expect the 49ers to address the trenches early in the draft, and Brugler has the team doing that. It's just not on the offensive side of the football. In fact, Brugler doesn't have San Francisco
49ers address both sides of the ball in latest Kiper 2-round mock draft
By David Bonilla
Apr 10
The San Francisco 49ers have overhauled their defensive line in free agency, bidding farewell to defensive tackle Arik Armstead and defensive end Chase Young while bolstering their ranks with the signings of defensive ends Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos. Additionally, they acquired defensive tackle Maliek Collins via trade.
Having focused primarily on the defensive side of the ball in free agency, the 49ers are widely anticipated to turn their attention to the offensive side in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Long-standing ESPN analyst Mel Kiper unveiled his latest mock draft, this
Six worst first-round draft picks in 49ers' history
By Marc Adams
Apr 13
It is less than two weeks away from the 2024 NFL Draft, and the San Francisco 49ers finally have a first-round draft pick, after not having one the last two years. Who will they select? Will it be a defensive player? An offensive player? They could use help on the offensive line and in the secondary and defensive line. And they may also have multiple holes to fill a year from now.
Either way, the 49ers need to hit on these draft picks, especially in the early rounds, where they haven't always been at their best. John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan have some first-round misses, like DT Solomon Thomas and LB Rueben Foster. But are those the worst first-round picks in team history? Neither made this list, though some will argue that Thomas should be on it, mainly because he was taken
