On Monday, it was reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network that the San Francisco 49ers are seriously considering selecting a quarterback with the second overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, which kicks off on Thursday night. More specifically, Rapoport identified North Carolina quarterback Mitchell Trubisky as the potential target. Of course, there is a possibility that the news is simply a smokescreen and an attempt to get another team to trade up.
It is entirely possible, with no pressure to quickly rebuild the roster, that the 49ers wait until later in the draft to select a quarterback. After all, the 2018 draft class is widely viewed to have a better crop of quarterbacks. There is also the possibility of quarterbacks like Kirk Cousins, who we know the 49ers are interested in, and Jimmy Garoppolo hitting free agency.
CBS Sports draft analyst Dane Brugler joined KNBR on Monday and the topic of a quarterback fit in a later round came up. The name that was discussed was Nathan Peterman of Pittsburgh, who is Pro Football Focus' fifth-highest graded quarterback in the draft.
"He might go as early as the second," Brugler said. "I have him graded (as) a fourth-round player but we know these quarterbacks always get pushed up. Late second is definitely possible. He's very well-versed in a pro-style scheme so he's really maybe the only quarterback that you feel comfortable saying, 'Ok, we're going to draft him and he's going to compete for snaps from day one and he very well could be out opening day starter because of his experience and what he brings.' So I think that is a big selling point with Peterman.
"Now, he's a 60-percent completion percentage thrower and I think that matches the tape. Downfield decision making, he's not afraid to push the ball, but the results weren't always there."
You can listen to the entire interview on KNBR.
"I don't think they're going into this draft thinking they're going to find a quarterback of their future," said our own Al Sacco during the most recent No Huddle podcast. "I think they're going into this draft thinking they're going to find a quarterback they can develop into this system and if he becomes a great backup, fantastic. If he becomes starting material, even better."
Sacco had Peterman as the player selected in the fourth round of his 49ers mock draft. "I know he doesn't have a great arm but I've seen him actually compared to Kirk Cousins," he said. "We all know what Kyle thinks of Kirk. He's not as impressive physically but he has good vision, he has good accuracy. He completed 42.6 percent of his deep throws even without a very strong arm, which shows that he's making the right reads, which shows that he's accurate.
"And I think he has the ability to develop under Shanahan into a nice QB. Again, I don't know that he's going to be a Pro Bowler but he could be somebody that you take, you groom, and he could end up surprising people."
