This morning, after Justin Fields of Ohio State took the top spot for a week, Mac Jones of Alabama once again became the betting favorite to be selected No. 3 overall by the San Francisco 49ers. He had been there for weeks following the Niners' trade on March 26. Fields' odds improved following his second workout, this time in front of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.
Oddsmakers once again favor Jones, though.
One NFL executive, along with many fans, can't really envision it. San Francisco surrendered a lot of draft capital to move up from No. 12. Is Jones worth sacrificing multiple first-rounders and a third-rounder?
"I don't think there's any way in hell they're taking Mac Jones," one unnamed NFL executive told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. "He's not good enough."
Most fans might agree with that assessment. Jones is a fine quarterback and maybe would be worth the selection at No. 12 after others have come off the board. But at No. 3, you assume a team wants a prospect with the potential for a higher ceiling. Most would point to Fields or even Trey Lance of North Dakota State as better options.
While Jones is seen as more pro-ready and having a higher floor, Fields and Lance are viewed as more athletic and could provide an added dimension to Shanahan's offense.
"The Shanahan offense has worked with a multitude of types of quarterbacks," the executive added. "But it really flourished when it had a big athlete with a big arm like John Elway running it. I just think you're moving up for the special athlete."
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Transcripts provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.
QB Mac Jones
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