NFL Media analyst Lance Zierlein released his latest mock draft and has selections No. 1 and 2 going as expected, with Trevor Lawrence to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Zach Wilson to the New York Jets.
At No. 3, Zierlein has San Francisco selecting former North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance, who, for now, seems to be the favorite at that spot.
"Lance was the projected selection for the 49ers in my mock draft 1.0, when they held the No. 12 pick," wrote Zierlein, "so it won't be a surprise if he's the player they're targeting after trading up. He's such a perfect fit for Kyle Shanahan's offense."
Other options could be Justin Fields of Ohio State or Mac Jones of Alabama. Or, perhaps something truly wild happens, and the Jets opt not to select Wilson at No. 2.
Zierlein recently discussed the match of Lance to the 49ers during a discussion on the Jake Atman Show and why it doesn't necessarily mean Jimmy Garoppolo will be pushed out this offseason.
"I think that Kyle Shanahan believes he's found the quarterback that fits his offense, and I think it's going to be Trey Lance," Zierlein said. "But if it is Trey Lance, it certainly is not likely that he would be a guy that you would hope would play this year. He clearly needs more seasoning, more work, more experience. But he fits what Kyle Shanahan does."
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers bolster pass rush in PFF's latest 2026 NFL mock draft
The San Francisco 49ers earned a 62.9 pass-rush grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF) during the 2025 season, with only four NFL teams posting a worse mark. Injuries played a significant role in the struggles, as the defense lost veteran Nick Bosa and last year's first-round... -
49ers address the trenches in CBS Sports 2026 NFL mock draft
Blake Brockermeyer released his latest 2026 NFL mock draft for CBS Sports. While some projections have the San Francisco 49ers going in other directions, Brockermeyer believes head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch should prioritize one of the team's most... -
49ers add receiver, running back in 3-round NFL mock draft
Alec Elijah of Pro Football and Sports Network (PFSN) released a three-round 2026 NFL mock draft projecting the San Francisco 49ers to address multiple roster needs—though notably not the offensive or defensive lines, two areas widely viewed as priorities. Still, Elijah has... -
49ers add potential George Kittle successor in Daniel Jeremiah's mock draft
George Kittle's timeline for returning in the 2026 NFL season remains uncertain, and it's unclear whether he'll be able to perform at his usual All-Pro level once he does. The San Francisco 49ers tight end suffered a torn Achilles during the team's Wild Card playoff loss to the...