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49ers draft: Schrager compares Mac Jones’ possible ceiling to Drew Brees
Apr 20, 2021 at 1:43 PM
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Peter Schrager of
Good Morning Football reiterated on NFL Network that the San Francisco 49ers have not yet decided who to draft at No. 3 overall next week. The analyst and morning host
initially stated that in his latest mock draft.
"I know the 49ers guys quite well,"
Schrager told Andrew Siciliano on NFL Network. "They have not made their official decision yet, but when you're looking at these three prospects, and it's Mac Jones, Justin Fields, Trey Lance, there is something to like in each one of them."
Schrager had the 49ers selecting Mac Jones of Alabama, passing on Justin Fields of Ohio State and Trey Lance of North Dakota State. While most see the latter two as more athletic and the prospects with higher ceilings, Schrager broke down what the floor and ceiling for Jones might be.
"The basement on Mac Jones, from everyone you talk to, the basement is Kirk Cousins," Schrager said. "The ceiling, if he's unbelievable, and he's the perfect prospect ... might be Drew Brees."
That's a bold statement from Schrager. Obviously, if Jones ends up having a career anywhere close to the longtime Saint and future Hall of Famer, no one will ever question the pick, especially if either Fields or Lance don't reach their full potential. While some have compared Jones to Cousins, who Shanahan has long admired, Schrager sees that as a potential floor.
Jones is the least popular of the three prospects among Niner fans. Most would prefer the team take a chance on Fields or Lance, especially if the intention is to hold onto Jimmy Garoppolo for the upcoming season. That will allow a rookie to sit, learn, and develop.
"These other guys, we don't know what the basement is on Justin Fields or Trey Lance," Schrager continued. "We do know that the ceiling could be Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes. You look at the situation in San Francisco, two great tackles in (Mike) McGlinchey and
Trent Williams, all the weapons in the world, and a coach in Kyle Shanahan, and an offensive mind in Mike McDaniels, who's going to be stepping up as really the offensive coordinator this year, that they can draw this thing up."
Added Schrager: "With Xs and Os, there might be no better quarterback to execute them, like he did last year, [than] Mac Jones."
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