ESPN analyst Mel Kiper expanded his latest mock draft to two rounds, and it features the San Francisco 49ers adding prospects on both sides of the football. The team traded from No. 12 overall to the No. 3 slot on March 26.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to select Trevor Lawrence with the top selection, and the New York Jets are projected to add Zach Wilson at No. 2 overall. That's exactly what Kiper has the two teams doing within his mock draft, leaving San Francisco with its choice of quarterbacks in Mac Jones, Justin Fields, and Trey Lance.
Kiper has the 49ers going with Jones, a selection that wouldn't be the most popular among the fanbase.
"It's hard to ignore the Jones-to-San Francisco buzz within the league," wrote Kiper. "Every sign two weeks out from the draft points to general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan being infatuated with Jones. I think he's the quarterback they traded up nine spots to take. Is he the perfect fit for Shanahan's offense? Only time will tell.
"Jones is my fourth-ranked quarterback and is No. 12 on my Big Board, and I'm not sure I see a superstar when I watch him on tape. He's solid -- and extremely accurate -- but not spectacular. Lynch and Shanahan are obviously taking the long view here, and this decision is going to be discussed and debated for years."
Shanahan and Lynch were in Tuscaloosa on March 30 to watch Jones at Alabama's pro day. The duo will be in Columbus tomorrow to watch Fields throw again and then in Fargo next week to watch Lance.
In round two, Kiper has San Francisco adding help on the defensive side of the football, drafting former Georgia cornerback Tyson Campbell.
"Before the 49ers made the trade up to No. 3, I thought corner was the most likely position to target at No. 12," wrote Kiper. "And they can still get a good one in Round 2. Campbell played a lot of press coverage for the Bulldogs, and he was inconsistent, but I'd bet on his upside. San Francisco let both Ahkello Witherspoon and Richard Sherman walk in free agency."
