And then there were two... maybe.
According to a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, the San Francisco 49ers have narrowed their focus at pick three to two quarterbacks: Mac Jones of Alabama and Trey Lance of North Dakota State. Rapoport posted the news on Twitter Sunday evening.
As the #49ers close in on their decision of which QB to take at No. 3, sources say they are down to two prospects — and the belief is those two are #Bama QB Mac Jones and #NDSU QB Trey Lance. Several sources say the focus does appear to have shifted to those two.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 26, 2021
A handful of writers and analysts responded to Rapoport's tweet saying they heard similar news in recent days or weeks.
This has been the buzz around the league the last week or so. Two very different QBs, and to swing it back to the #Patriots, one that could impact the availability of Jimmy Garoppolo (despite what SF has said). As I said earlier this week, Jones is considered more "pro ready." https://t.co/0DdoXqMofJ
— Michael Giardi (@MikeGiardi) April 26, 2021
Like I've been saying...
Nothing would surprise me Thursday night. But Jones and Lance are the two names that NFL teams are talking about as the possibilities at No. 3. https://t.co/7WCvwFVjy6
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) April 26, 2021
I've been steadfast in the belief Lance is the guy, I guess we will see https://t.co/ylcUO1Ry46
— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) April 26, 2021
49ers fans holding out hope for Justin Fields being the choice at pick three won't like that news, and it's certainly still possible no one outside of team headquarters knows for sure what the 49ers will do Thursday night. But if Rapoport's tweet turns out to be correct, then the next quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers will either be an intriguing high-potential athletic project in Lance or a more NFL-ready pocket passer in Jones.
It's likely this won't be the last piece of insight into what's going on in Santa Clara before the first round of the draft gets underway on Thursday. Meanwhile, 49ers general manager John Lynch will be speaking to the media at 12:30 p.m. PT for his predraft press conference tomorrow afternoon. Lynch most likely won't give any clear hint on which way the 49ers will be heading on Thursday but may at least let reporters know whether or not the team has made its final decision.