For those reading way too much into the presence of San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan being in Tuscaloosa today for Mac Jones' workout and not in Columbus for Justin Fields', Shanahan offered the following explanation on Monday.
"[Just] talking with Fields's agent [David Mulugheta] and everything, we'll get another one from him too," Shanahan said via Kirk Larrabee. "So we'll be able to see him. That kind of made it an easy decision."
#49ers GM @JohnLynch49ers and head coach #Kyle Shanahan observing Mac Jones throw today. pic.twitter.com/CxACmvrGoI
— 49ers Webzone (@49erswebzone) March 30, 2021
That Fields workout will come sooner than most thought. Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group reports that the 49ers' brass is expected to fly to Columbus immediately following the Alabama pro day this afternoon.
"That's according to a flight plan, on FlightAware.com, connected to the only private jet that went from San Jose to Tuscaloosa on Monday," wrote Inman.
That is some nice digging from the veteran reporter.
Ohio State's pro day is taking place at the same time as Alabama's. Fields reportedly clocked a 4.43-second 40-yard dash this afternoon.
From a scout at Ohio State
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) March 30, 2021
Justin Fields 4.43
"I'm excited to see him eventually in person," Shanahan said of Fields. "I've also got a lot of tape to go off too. I know he's going to throw it really good in person and be really fast in person also."
The 49ers are represented today in Columbus. Assistant general manager Adam Peters and a small contingent of staff are there to watch Fields. It's possible Lynch and Shanahan are just swinging by to pick them up on their way back home.
Lynch and Shanahan were not seen at other pro days because, at the No. 12 draft slot, they did not want to tip their hand on who they were interested in. At No. 3, and with the top two selections nearly a lock, that is less important.
"We have people at all the spots — a lot of people we trust and people we'll meet with over the next month," Shanahan said. "I normally don't like to go to them a bunch unless I feel I have to for some reason. But I also have been kind of grown up in the idea that you don't like to go everywhere and show people things.
"When you're sitting at 12, I don't like to go to a bunch of quarterback pro days and things like that. Now that you move up to three, you don't have to hide as much. It's not as big of a deal to me as it might have been when we were sitting at 12."