Everyone is trying to figure out what the San Francisco 49ers will do with the No. 3 overall draft pick. Last week, they moved into that slot via a blockbuster and draft-altering trade with the Miami Dolphins.
ESPN analyst Todd McShay released his latest mock draft, this one of the two-round variety, and has quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson going to the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets, respectively, with the first two selections.
San Francisco is also expected to select its quarterback of the future and will likely have its choice of Justin Fields, Trey Lance, and Mac Jones. McShay has general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan selecting the latter—Jones of Alabama.
"The Niners sacrificed first-rounders over the next two years and then some to skip the line," wrote McShay. "Which player did they do it for? Coach Kyle Shanahan surely has his guy in mind already, and it's going to be a QB -- teams don't make these types of massive early deals for non-QBs.
"I'm hearing a lot of noise about Jones being the 49ers' preference. He is accurate and reads the field so well, which helps assuage some mobility concerns. Plus, he excels when passing in the pocket or off play-action, two staples of Shanahan's system. San Francisco paid a hefty price, but quarterback was in need of an upgrade. Now it just has to hope it selects the right one."
Jones (6-3, 214) helped guide the Crimson Tide to a National Championship this past collegiate season. He was 36-of-45 for 464 yards with five touchdowns in the 52-24 rout of Ohio State.
Jones completed 77.4 percent of his passes for 4,500 yards with 41 touchdowns and four interceptions through 13 games in 2020, earning 2020 Consensus All-America honors and becoming the recipient of the Davey O'Brien and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm awards.
Lance ends up going No. 7 overall after the Carolina Panthers move up a spot to grab him. The New England Patriots trade up to No. 11 to grab Fields.
McShay has the 49ers selecting cornerback Kelvin Joseph of Kentucky in the second round.
"San Francisco got its QB, and now it gets its cornerback," wrote McShay. "I love Joseph's instinctive play and the way he can start and stop on a dime. He could slide into Richard Sherman's vacant spot."
Joseph recorded 25 tackles, four interceptions, a touchdown, and a pass defensed through nine games as a sophomore for the Wildcats in 2020.