Robert Franklin-USA TODAY Sports
Add Schrager’s mock draft to the list of those predicting Mac Jones-to-49ers
Justin Wong just released his
latest Mock Draft Roundup. The overwhelming favorite projection for the San Francisco 49ers at the No. 3 overall pick is the selection of quarterback Mac Jones of Alabama.
Add NFL Network's Peter Schrager to the list of those following that narrative.
The
Good Morning Football host
released his own mock draft on Thursday morning, and like most others, it has Trevor Lawrence of Clemson and Zach Wilson of BYU coming off the board with the top two selections. Those predictions seem like no-brainers.
Based on what he is hearing around the league, Schrager has San Francisco going with the Crimson Tide product, Jones.
"The 49ers made a decisive trade to get to No. 3 overall," wrote Schrager. "I honestly do not think they've made a decision on who the QB will be yet, but they wanted the flexibility to make that choice over the next few weeks. I will tell you this: Mac Jones' name didn't pop up out of nowhere. And I don't think it's a smokescreen. He has all of the traits Kyle Shanahan is looking for."
Jones (6-3, 214) helped guide Alabama to a National Championship this past collegiate season while completing 77.4 percent of his passes for 4,500 yards with 41 touchdowns and only four interceptions.
A potential selection of Jones might have been less criticized by the 49ers fanbase when the team sat at No. 12. It's not a popular projection at No. 3 if it means passing on more athletic quarterbacks with potentially higher ceilings, like Justin Fields of Ohio State or Trey Lance of North Dakota State.
One NFL Network analyst, Bucky Brooks, doesn't even view Jones as worthy of a first-round selection.
"Perhaps the Alabama quarterback is a secret member of The Avengers, operating like Tony Stark as Iron Man,"
wrote Brooks in a recent feature for NFL.com. "... While I'm not issuing a complete dismissal of Jones' talents as a pinpoint passer with nice timing, touch and anticipation, he significantly benefited from playing behind an NFL-caliber offensive line with first-round talents at wide receiver and running back. The Crimson Tide offense was the armored suit that elevated Jones' game, and scouts need to keep his production in perspective when gauging his talent."
We're still three weeks away from the start of the draft, and it is possible the narrative changes following Fields'
second pro day, which head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch are expected to attend.
More San Francisco 49ers News
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
PFF prefers Justin Fields but still predicts Mac Jones to 49ers in mock draft
By David Bonilla
Apr 9, 2021
Add yet another mock draft to the pile of those that have the San Francisco 49ers selecting former Alabama quarterback Mac Jones with the No. 3 overall pick over Justin Fields of Ohio State and Trey Lance of North Dakota State. Andrew Erickson of Pro Football Focus has head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch following the narrative created by Chris Simms, Adam Schefter, Daniel Jeremiah, and other national analysts.
That doesn't mean Erickson sees Jones as the better prospect. The projection is just based on what is being heard around the league — not that anyone can say with any certainty what the 49ers plan to do.
"Although I personally don't agree with the selection — Justin Fields would be the better option — Jones still
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
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
