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Much of the San Francisco 49ers-related draft discussion between now and Thursday will involve Mac Jones of Alabama. Monday's press conference with general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan has left many fans feeling that Jones is the likely pick at No. 3. While that may be disheartening for much of the fanbase, the decision ultimately comes down to what Shanahan wants for
his offense.
If the coach feels Jones being at the helm gives the 49ers the best chance to win future championships, that will be the pick. No amount of fan pushback will change that.
Maybe Shanahan and Lynch are pulling off the ultimate bluff and setting fans up for a draft-day surprise. Or maybe it is indeed Jones.
Jones could be successful. He may not be the exciting prospect that the fanbase is clamoring for, but that doesn't mean he won't find success in the NFL. Whether it is successful enough to warrant surrendering multiple future first-round picks and a third-rounder will be determined.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated spoke with one NFL general manager — probably not named "Lynch" — about Jones. The executive had some good things to say about the former Crimson Tide quarterback.
"We've discounted the pocket passer, and we're discounting him, because there are so many unique athletes that play the position now,"
the general manager told Breer. "But this guy's good. He's deadly accurate. He doesn't have a powerful arm, but it's plenty good enough. He needs players around him, he needs really good players, and he was driving a Cadillac at Bama. But he can play."
Jones is seen as the most pro-ready of the three quarterback prospects likely to be available at No. 3, including Justin Fields of Ohio State and Trey Lance of North Dakota State. Fields and Lance, however, are seen as having higher ceilings. While Fields and Lance may struggle at first, teams could be happy with each's long-term outlook.
Breer's conversation with the unnamed general manager left him feeling the opposite might be true of Jones.
"So when I add all this up, really, what I come away with is that Jones will probably make a team happy in Years 2 and 3," wrote Breer, "but I'd be a little worried that in Year 5 or 6, he might leave them wanting more from the position."
That's the concern that has The Faithful anxious about the potential selection.
Breer also commented on the level of secrecy the 49ers have been maintaining when it comes to their top selection, especially considering the two picks ahead of them may be the worst-kept secrets in the NFL. It may not all be Shanahan and Lynch's fault, though.
"The league office has routinely warned teams at the top over the years about killing the drama of draft night by letting the cat out of the bag," wrote Breer. "I think that's a little dumb, given that we've known Lawrence was going to be the first pick in the 2021 draft for more than two years now. But doing things like protecting their TV shows is one reason why they print money in that corner of midtown Manhattan, so good for them, I guess."
Last week, it was reported that the San Francisco 49ers planned to host former Kentucky cornerback Andru Phillips on a pre-draft visit. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo confirms that the visit will take place during the upcoming week, which marks the final opportunity for such visits to occur.
Phillips will also meet with the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans this week.
Adding a noteworthy tidbit to the social media post, Garafolo mentions, "A likely second-round pick, though some evaluators have first-round grades on
Jeff Garcia has been impressed by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy in his two seasons with the team. As the last overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Purdy was thrust into the spotlight after the 49ers faced quarterback injuries and proved his NFL mettle.
While some doubts lingered after his rookie season, Purdy's resilience shone through. Despite starting only five regular-season games, he guided the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game, where, unfortunately, he suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his throwing arm. Garcia was among those who wondered whether Purdy could maintain his success into his second season.
Last year, coming off surgery, Purdy set a single-season franchise record with 4,280 passing yards. His impressive performance
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
