First off, let's make it clear that it would be irresponsible for the San Francisco 49ers to deny anything when it comes to guesswork surrounding their 2021 NFL Draft intentions. Yes, they own the No. 3 overall pick, but that doesn't mean they want everyone to know what they plan to do.
Everyone expects quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson to go one and two in the draft ... but it's the NFL Draft. Nothing is a certainty.
A national narrative has been created that indicates the favorite to land with San Francisco is former Alabama quarterback Mac Jones. Maybe that will be the case. Maybe not. The team could also select Justin Fields of Ohio State or Trey Lance of North Dakota State. Head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch are expected to attend each's second pro days over the next couple of weeks.
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Obviously, a Jones-to-49ers scenario would be the least popular option among the fanbase, as the other two prospects are seen as more athletic and potentially having higher ceilings.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network joined the Rich Eisen Show and shared that he asked Shanahan about Jones. Is the Crimson Tide product is a real option for the 49ers at No. 3?
"Obviously, the Mac Jones buzz is real," Rapoport told Eisen. "I know he is someone that they are considering. I know that they really like him. I know he's someone that Kyle is very interested in. And when I asked Kyle Shanahan about this, basically, 'Is this real? Is he someone you're considering at three?' He was like, 'Yeah, he is. We're definitely considering him.'
"And a lot of the people who know Kyle Shanahan well will speak of his, and Mike Shanahan's, love for Mac Jones. So, I think a lot of the buzz is legit. What I don't 100 percent know is, are they actually doing it? Because if you talk to other teams in the top 10, and really, just other teams in general, everyone agrees Mac Jones is a first-round pick. Not everyone agrees that he should be picked there.
"Is he Kirk Cousins-plus for Kyle? Maybe. But I'm not 100 percent ready to say, 'This is definitely the guy, let's move on to the fourth pick.'"
Some have wondered how anyone could know who the 49ers are leaning toward when the organization has been relatively leak-free during Shanahan and Lynch's tenure, especially in their draft intentions. The NFL insider isn't convinced too many people truly know the details of San Francisco's plan.
"What I also know is that Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch have not told people in their organization," Rapoport added, "so there's only a couple of people who actually really know, and they're not saying. So, we can talk about the Mac Jones buzz, and we have. I think a lot of people originally thought [the trade] was for Trey Lance because he would probably sit a year. I could make arguments on all sides, but I believe that very few people actually know the answer to this."
All eyes are on the #49ers and the 3rd overall pick in the #NFLDraft... so we asked @RapSheet what he's heard and if John Lynch ever picked up the phone and called the #NYJets to inquire about #2? pic.twitter.com/4qAlpOx3fn
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) April 9, 2021