Argus Leader-USA TODAY
ESPN’s McShay has 49ers drafting Trey Lance in final mock draft
Apr 29, 2021 at 6:44 AM
•
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
This morning, ESPN analyst Todd McShay released
his final mock draft. While most mock drafts have the San Francisco 49ers selecting Mac Jones of Alabama with the No. 3 overall pick, an unpopular choice among fans, based on social media feedback, McShay has the team selecting Trey Lance of North Dakota State.
"This is where it gets interesting, with a departure from what we've been predicting for the past month (Alabama's Mac Jones)," McShay explained within the article. "Lance has a huge arm and the tools to develop into an excellent NFL starter. He has only 17 career starts, all at the FCS level, but he'd have a chance to learn and develop behind Jimmy Garoppolo for a year or two before taking over."
Of course, there remain
scattered rumors that the 49ers may opt to trade Garoppolo before or even during the draft. However, the team has repeatedly stated that the veteran quarterback remains in its plans for the upcoming season.
McShay has Justin Fields of Ohio State headed to the Denver Broncos at No. 9 and Jones to the New England Patriots at No. 15.
The ESPN analyst is not alone in his thinking. Cris Collinsworth's Thursday-morning mock draft also has Lance headed to the 49ers. Although, his reasoning might seem questionable to some.
"I don't believe the Niners traded up with Trey Lance in mind,"
Collinsworth wrote on Pro Football Focus. "I will always think that Kyle Shanahan traded up to get Mac Jones, but the fan base revolted. So, the 49ers go the developmental route with Trey Lance and let Jimmy Garoppolo play one more year."
How does ESPN's Adam Schefter feel about McShay's selection of Lance?
"I can tell you that Trey Lance has closed the gap on Mac Jones,"
Schefter said this morning on ESPN's
Get Up! "I don't know that it was enough to overturn him. When the Niners traded up to the No. 3 spot, giving up two future additional first-round draft picks, they did so with the intention of taking Mac Jones but leaving open the idea that they would do a deep-dive into Trey Lance and Justin Fields, which is what they've done. And I can tell you that they've come away impressed.
"I think Trey Lance is the smartest quarterback in this draft class, with a tremendous aptitude, well-liked by his teammates, beloved there at North Dakota State. And he has impressed Kyle Shanahan. And so, he has gotten square into the conversation."
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
"Thank God for Mr. Irrelevant": John Lynch reflects on 49ers drafting Trey Lance
The decision to trade up in the 2021 NFL Draft and select quarterback Trey Lance could have had significant consequences for general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan. With the team lacking first-round picks in the last two drafts due to this move, and Lance no longer on the roster after being traded to the Dallas Cowboys before last season, it's clear the gamble didn't unfold as expected.
Lynch held his annual pre-draft press conference on Monday, reflecting on the decision to take such a big chance on Lance. While such a bold move might have jeopardized jobs elsewhere, Lynch and Shanahan were blessed with some good fortune in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Acknowledging the support of the team's ownership, Lynch stated, "They believe in Kyle and I, and our
ESPN analyst: I 'dominated' mock draft for 49ers
Matt Miller, a longtime San Francisco 49ers fan and ESPN analyst, recently conducted a mock draft using ESPN Analytics' mock draft simulator. Proud of his projections, Miller shared the results on social media.
Basically DOMINATED this mock draft for the 49ers.https://t.co/j7ag09VRAY pic.twitter.com/COOE0M1eku— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) April
7-round mock draft has 49ers adding 2 legacy players
Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus unveiled a seven-round mock draft for the San Francisco 49ers, addressing several key needs for the team in the 10-pick projection. Interestingly, the mock draft sees the team adding two legacy players. But before delving into that, let's examine the first three selections.
Sikkema has the 49ers shoring up their offensive line at pick No. 31 with the selection of former Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan.
Morgan allowed 14 pressures and two sacks in his 477 pass-blocking snaps at left tackle in 2023. He earned an impressive pass-blocking grade of 87.3 and an overall grade of
Schrager mock draft has 49ers adding 'universally liked and respected' receiver
With only nine days remaining until the start of the 2024 NFL Draft, Good Morning Football's Peter Schrager revealed his first mock draft of the year. While most might expect the San Francisco 49ers to target an offensive lineman, Schrager has the team bolstering its wide receiver corps with an SEC talent.
Schrager has the 49ers using the No. 31 overall pick to select former Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey, whose 2023 campaign with the Bulldogs was limited by back and ankle injuries.
"McConkey in the first round? Yes," Schrager wrote. "Above guys like Troy Franklin and Keon Coleman? Perhaps. I've spoken to a
