The argument for Mac Jones over some other quarterback prospects at No. 3 overall is that the former Alabama player might be among the most ready to step in and play. Some feel that Justin Fields of Ohio State or Trey Lance of North Dakota State could benefit from sitting and learning for a year. Much of that has to do with the system within which Jones played last year.
Fields and Lance are viewed as having higher ceilings than Jones, though. They may be better long-term prospects.
ESPN's Todd McShay released his latest mock draft and has the San Francisco 49ers selecting Jones with their top pick. That isn't a popular option for fans, who would much prefer Fields or Lance, especially if the plan is to keep Jimmy Garoppolo on the roster for another season. Having the veteran remain with the team gives San Francisco the luxury of allowing a rookie to sit and learn while still chasing a championship.
Plus, it's hard to imagine San Francisco giving up so much draft capital for a player who might have been there at a lower spot—maybe even at the team's original draft slot of No. 12.
If things go as McShay predicts, don't expect Jones—or any other rookie—to be the Week 1 starter despite being a top-three pick. The job belongs to Garoppolo until someone proves he can execute head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense better.
"I think they plan on starting Jimmy Garoppolo early in the season and developing whichever quarterback it is," McShay said Thursday morning on ESPN's Get Up! "Both Mac Jones and Trey Lance only started 17 games in college, so there's going to be a learning curve for these guys.
"Now, Mac Jones did it in the SEC versus Trey Lance, who played in the FCS at North Dakota State. But Mac Jones, from an intelligence standpoint, sitting down and talking to him multiple times this year, I've been blown away by what he can take in.
"In the first week of the season (former Alabama offensive coordinator), Steve Sarkisian told us, against Missouri, as we prepared for that game, 'Mac Jones just has to stay in his lane. We're not going to ask too much of him.' The second game that we did, he was saying, 'Well, he's really developing, and he's becoming a real asset for us.'
"The third game we did, late in the season, he said, 'I've installed more with Mac Jones than I have with any college quarterback.' And if you go look at Steve Sarkisian and his history in college football, that says a lot about what Mac Jones was able to process and improve upon within one season as a full-time starter."
Jones (6-3, 214) ended up helping guide the Crimson Tide to a National Championship while completing 77.4 percent of his passes for 4,500 yards with 41 touchdowns and only four interceptions.
For those growing tired of hearing about the Jones-to-49ers speculation, it could be a long few weeks.
Todd McShay has 49ers selecting QB Mac Jones in latest two-round mock draft
By David Bonilla
Apr 1, 2021
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,
Adam Schefter convinced 49ers draft Mac Jones, hold onto Jimmy Garoppolo
By David Bonilla
Apr 6, 2021
Adam Schefter joined ESPN radio on Tuesday morning and voiced his opinion on who the San Francisco 49ers will select with the No. 3 overall pick on April 29. Much of the media predicts that player to be former Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, and Schefter sees that as the most likely outcome, too.
"Oh, it'll be Mac Jones," Schefter responded when asked for his prediction.
What does that mean for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have stated remains in the team's plans for 2021? The 49ers view themselves as contenders and don't want to throw in a rookie to lead the offense. Garoppolo is familiar with the playbook, and his teammates trust him.
With next year's rookie quarterback class not expected to
Tannenbaum sees Mac Jones as 'very similar' to Matt Ryan, has QB to 49ers in mock draft
By David Bonilla
Apr 6, 2021
Yet another mock draft has the San Francisco 49ers selecting former Alabama quarterback Mac Jones with the No. 3 overall pick. This one from ESPN's Mike Tannenbaum is a bit different, though. While some analysts feel that Jones-to-49ers is the most likely scenario, many feel that the selection would be a reach, especially with potentially higher-ceiling prospects Justin Fields and Trey Lance likely to still be on the board.
The latest ESPN mock draft has Tannenbaum, a former NFL executive, playing the role of general manager for all 32 teams and choosing the players he feels are the best fit for
Neither Lynch nor Shanahan asked Nick Saban about Mac Jones, potential 49ers draft pick, at pro day
By David Bonilla
Apr 6, 2021
File this under interesting pre-draft tidbits. San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan were in attendance for Alabama's pro day last week. That made headlines because the duo opted to watch quarterback Mac Jones rather than attend Ohio State's pro day to watch Justin Fields. Paired with Chris Simms' speculation that San Francisco might have traded up to the No. 3 spot for Jones, that spurred others to seriously consider a Jones-to-49ers scenario.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban recently joined the Dan Patrick Show and shared that neither Lynch nor Shanahan asked him anything about his former quarterback, who helped guide the Crimson Tide to a national championship. And it wasn't because they didn't have an opportunity to do
