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Adam Schefter joined ESPN radio on Tuesday morning and voiced his opinion on who the San Francisco 49ers will select with the No. 3 overall pick on April 29. Much of the media predicts that player to be former Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, and Schefter sees that as the most likely outcome, too.
"Oh, it'll be Mac Jones," Schefter responded when asked for his prediction.
What does that mean for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have stated remains in the team's plans for 2021? The 49ers view themselves as contenders and don't want to throw in a rookie to lead the offense. Garoppolo is familiar with the playbook, and his teammates trust him.
With next year's rookie quarterback class not expected to be as talented as this year's, San Francisco traded up to acquire its quarterback of the future.
"Again, if the draft were held today, they've got to go through the process, and they've got to assess all the quarterbacks," Schefter continued. "I believe that in the end, they will pick Mac Jones at three. That will be the pick, and they will keep Jimmy Garoppolo this year."
Things could change if an offer wowed the 49ers. There have been
multiple reports that it would take a first-round pick for Lynch and Shanahan to deviate from their current plan and part with Garoppolo. While that may seem like an overvaluation to many, it is more an indication that they intend to keep Garoppolo, allowing the rookie a season to sit and learn.
"Now, look, could New England decide we're going to give you this and this on draft day or draft weekend, and the Niners make a decision to trade him? Yeah," Schefter added. "That could be. But I can just tell you that their plan was, they believe they've got a Super Bowl-caliber roster, a playoff-caliber roster, and that they want to draft a quarterback and have that guy sit on the bench, learn, get acclimated, even though some people say Mac Jones is ready to play right away.
"And then, after the season, you move on from Jimmy. But a couple of things. Number one, the roster is ready to win now, and they think a veteran is more capable of taking the team further right now. And number two, Jimmy Garoppolo has missed most of two of the past three seasons with injuries. ... There are no assurances that he's even going to remain healthy. And so, if he's not healthy, then you have the quarterback you drafted at No. 3, who I believe, ultimately, will be Mac Jones."
After failing to acquire Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright, the San Francisco 49ers signed former Houston Texans tight end Eric Saubert to a one-year deal. However, the team will likely still look to the draft to bolster the depth behind All-Pro George Kittle.
According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the 49ers held a virtual meeting with Louisiana tight end Neal Johnson.
Louisiana Lafayette tight end Neal Johnson has had dinner meetings with #Commanders and
Justin Melo of The Draft Network reports that the San Francisco 49ers expressed interest in Jonah Laulu, meeting with the defensive lineman at Oklahoma's pro day on March 12.
Melo notes that Laulu is versatile enough to play defensive end or defensive tackle on an NFL defense, making him an intriguing prospect for the 49ers, who value players who can fill multiple roles.
.@OU_Football DL Jonah Laulu is versatile enough to play as a base DE or within the interior.Former Hawaii transfer, Laulu met with
Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic has released his three-round mock draft, complete with trades, as well as commentary on the first-round picks. Like previous mock drafts from writers at The Athletic, Baumgardner's has the Niners taking an offensive lineman in the first round. Baumgardner thinks the Niners will select Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan with the No. 31 overall pick. Morgan, a 6-foot-6, 320-pound Senior, breaks the trend of Athletic
We are now nearly two months removed from the San Francisco 49ers' Super Bowl 58 defeat. The NFL Scouting Combine and the bulk of free agency are in the books. Before we look forward to the NFL Draft, it is important to reflect on the moves that have already occurred. They will provide a better picture of the team's remaining needs heading into the annual rookie selection event.
To review a complete list of the 49ers' offseason moves thus far, you can visit our 2024 free agency tracker.
Key Departures
The most significant departure was Arik Armstead. The defensive tackle's high salary-cap figure and his recent injury history prompted the
