Pro Football Focus released its latest mock draft, courtesy of analyst Ben Linsey. The San Francisco 49ers are highly anticipated to select a quarterback following their recent trade up to the No. 3 spot. They'll have their choice of some good options. With Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson nearly a lock to go No. 1 and No. 2, San Francisco can go with Justin Fields of Ohio State, Trey Lance of North Dakota State, or Mac Jones of Alabama.
Linsey has San Francisco going with the player who has been the popular choice among 49ers fans—Fields.
"Fields' game has been put under the microscope over the past several weeks to the point where there are people — including NFL executives — looking for faults that aren't there," wrote Linsey. "Fields earned a 90.0-plus PFF grade in each of the past two years as Ohio State's starter and an 85.0-plus grade in each of the Buckeyes' two playoff games this past season. That production comes along with high-end athletic traits, accuracy and arm talent."
Fields (6-3, 228) appeared in eight games with the Buckeyes last season, completing 70.2 percent of his passes for 2,100 yards with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions while adding five rushing touchdowns, per Sports Reference. That followed up an impressive 2019 campaign that saw the quarterback throw 41 touchdowns and run for 10 more while throwing just three interceptions.
There is no doubt in the Pro Football Focus analyst's mind that Fields makes the most sense for San Francisco and is a player worthy of the blockbuster move to select him. While others express concern over Lance's experience and Jones' potentially lower ceiling, Fields seems like a good mix between the two—a quarterback with a higher ceiling who has shown fantastic athleticism throughout his collegiate career.
"That's the profile of a quarterback that teams should trade multiple first-round picks to move up and secure," Linsey added.
The 2021 NFL Draft begins on April 29.
