49ers' Kyle Shanahan: 'Irresponsible' Listening to Outside Noise on No. 3 Pick
Apr 27, 2021
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan walks the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan isn't interested in hearing about what people—especially on social media—think the team should do with its No. 3 overall pick on Thursday.
"It is so irresponsible to let something like that affect your decision," Shanahan told reporters Monday. "We do this for a living and people should be proud of us that we won't let that affect our decision. And then it's up to us to live with the consequences."
There has been widespread speculation about who will be the 49ers' selection since the team traded up with the Miami Dolphins. They were originally slated to pick at No. 12.
Asked whether he can guarantee that Jimmy Garoppolo will be on his roster Sunday, Kyle Shanahan says, "I can't guarantee that anybody in the world will be alive Sunday." Things getting pretty grim out here in these zoom streets.
Amid a report from NFL Network'sIan Rapoportthat the team had narrowed it down to Alabama's Mac Jones and North Dakota State's Trey Lance, Shanahan wouldn't reveal any specifics about the team's plans—just that they viewed five players as "capable of being our starting quarterback and capable of winning with."
While he was quiet about which up-and-coming player he had his eyes on, Shanahan also dodged questions about the future of Jimmy Garoppolo:
Garoppolo has only started 32 games since he joined the league in 2014, though that's partly due to the fact that he spent his first years as a backup to Tom Brady with the New England Patriots. Since joining the 49ers, he has only played in 31 games throughout four seasons.
Though he wouldn't set it in stone that Garoppolo would be on the roster moving forward, he did reiterate that he has been communicating with Garoppolo over Zoom and the plan is to have whoever the team drafts work under him at first, according toCam Inmanof the Bay Area News Group.
Former NFL GM Insists 49ers Will Pick Justin Fields No. 3 in 2021 NFL Draft
Apr 27, 2021
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields runs against Clemson during the first half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Nobody knows what the San Francisco 49ers will do with the No. 3 pick at Thursday's NFL draft, outside of selecting a quarterback.
Will it be Mac Jones? Trey Lance? Or perhaps Justin Fields?
At least one former general manager believes it will be the latter, despite persistent chatter that Jones is the apple of Kyle Shanahan's eye.
"Hey, I got a former GM insisting that it's Fields—insisting that it's Fields—which is stunning to me," Mike Florio said on Pro Football Live Tuesday (3:16 mark).
Peter Kingof Pro Football Talk projected Jones to be the pick for San Francisco in his latest mock draft, though he called it a "two-horse race with Trey Lance."
He continued:
"Shanahan believes Jones is the accurate coach-on-the-field type he craves. As one coach in QB-prospecting mode told me this spring: 'Jones has elite NFL traits. He's a natural thrower, is technically very sound, very accurate and throws a catchable ball. His base and mechanics are excellent.' He's not the athlete a Lance or Fields is, but he doesn't have feet of stone. I'll be fascinated—we all will—if Jones is the pick. And I can see it happening."
The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport also reported on Monday that the Niners were deciding between Jones and Lance:
From NFL Now: The #49ers are down to two. What now for SF as they pick between Mac Jones and Trey Lance. pic.twitter.com/KJMS3gPR0F
And ESPN's Todd McShay reported Monday that "many in the 49ers' personnel department have pushed for North Dakota State QB Trey Lance but that coach Kyle Shanahan wants to draft Alabama's Mac Jones. One person I spoke to even heard that Shanahan might 'acquiesce' to the scouting department on the selection, but others have said that seems unlikely."
You will notice, of course, that none of these reports have Fields even in the conversation any longer.
That doesn't mean that the Niners aren't actually interested in Fields. It could simply mean that all of these reports are a smokescreen meant to disguise their true intentions. Granted, it's not completely clear why a smokescreen would matter all that much for the Niners, with the widely held belief that Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson are basically locks to be the top two picks and the draft essentially begins with San Francisco.
Is there really a benefit for San Francisco keeping their cards close to the vest if they have an interest in Fields? Are they scared a team that loves Fields will try to leapfrog them in a trade up to No. 2 with the New York Jets?
Maybe, but that scenario feels farfetched. The more likely scenario, at this point, is that the Niners are truly deciding between Jones and Lance. People outside of San Francisco's draft room may believe that Fields should be the pick, but it seems unlikely he actually will be the selection.
NFL Draft 2021: Fields, Wilson and QB Predictions in Latest Expert Mocks
Apr 27, 2021
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields warms up before the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game against Clemson Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
The biggest thing everyone wants to talk about regarding the 2021 NFL draft is where the top five quarterbacks will land.
Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Justin Fields, Mac Jones and Trey Lance could all be selected in the top 10 on Thursday, and most projections have the early part of the first round dominated by the quintet.
Lawrence and Wilson are locked into the first two positions in every mock draft. Lawrence will go to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Wilson is expected to follow at No. 2 to the New York Jets.
The uncertainty begins with the San Francisco 49ers. If they do not select a quarterback, it will make the decision to trade up from No. 12 to No. 3 baffling.
The two signal-callers left after the first three picks may not have to wait long to hear their names called.
Latest Mock Draft Breakdown
Justin Fields and Mac Jones Projected to Go 3rd
Opinions differ on what the 49ers will do when they hit the clock on Thursday.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan did not tip his team's decision during a Monday press conference. He stated the team has five guys it will choose from at No. 3.
On Sunday night, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that the 49ers were down to Jones and Lance. Jones is the only one of the two projected to land at No. 3 in mock drafts.
Lance is the most developmental quarterback in play in the first round because he only played 19 games at the FCS level with North Dakota State and played in a single exhibition in 2020.
Jones is far from the perfect product, and one could make the argument he may struggle in an offense with less firepower than the Alabama Crimson Tide had in 2020. Najee Harris, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle could all be first-round picks.
Fields possesses two full seasons of playing experience at Ohio State, and he took some snaps as a freshman at Georgia. He is more experienced than Jones or Lance, so he could be better placed to take over for Jimmy Garoppolo.
However, if the 49ers turn away from Fields, there could be a free-for-all in the bottom half of the top 10 that leads to a team moving up to land him.
Experts in Agreement Denver Will Take Quarterback
The Denver Broncos will be waiting from their perch at No. 9 to see which quarterbacks become available after the 49ers find their man.
The perfect situation for Denver may be to have Fields drop all the way down to No. 9, which is what Lewis projects will happen.
That scenario seems unlikely because a quarterback-hungry team could trade up above Denver, or the Broncos themselves could make the leap up a few positions.
The Pro Football Focus mock draft has Denver moving up three positions to No. 6 in a deal with the Miami Dolphins to land Lance.
Walker and King are in agreement that Denver will wait out the draft process and land Lance at No. 9. That is possible if the Dolphins, Detroit Lions and Carolina Panthers address their positional needs with Tua Tagovailoa, Jared Goff and Sam Darnold already atop their respective depth charts at quarterback.
Denver's biggest fear has to be that a team, such as the New England Patriots, makes a move with one of the three teams in front of it.
If a trade above them does not occur, the Broncos should be able to land a quarterback in the first two rounds for the second time in three years. Drew Lock, who was a 2019 second-round pick, has not panned out the way the Broncos hoped he would as of yet.
All 32 NFL franchises have multiple positional needs heading into Thursday's draft. But no single position will be as captivating as the quarterback carousel. Each of the first four picks could be quarterbacks...
2021 NFL Mock Draft: Complete 1st-Round Predictions for Top Prospects and More
Apr 27, 2021
North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance prepares to play against Central Arkansas at an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Fargo, N.D. North Dakota State won 39-28. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
With the 2021 NFL draft mere days away, all eyes are on the San Francisco 49ers.
Trevor Lawrence was photoshopped into a Jacksonville Jaguars jersey as soon as the Jags secured the No. 1 overall pick. Likewise, Zach Wilson has become the consensus favorite for the New York Jets at No. 2.
Much like last year—when Joe Burrow and Chase Young were the first two players off the board—the intrigue begins with the third selection. And the only sure thing one can say about the 49ers is that Jimmy Garoppolo probably won't be the starting quarterback in Week 1.
Asked if he could guarantee that Jimmy Garoppolo would be on the 49ers’ roster Sunday, Kyle Shanahan said, “I can’t guarantee that anybody in the world will be alive Sunday."
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: AzeezOjulari, EDGE, Georgia
Biggest First-Round Storylines
What Will the Niners Do?
To some extent, it's surprising this much uncertainty still hovers around the Niners.
They're clearly going after a quarterback after trading up to No. 3. General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan know exactly who's going to be available, too, since Lawrence and Wilson appear to be locks.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported on SportsCenter that Lynch and Shanahan are being so secretive that some high-level executives within the organization didn't know where things are headed:
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the Niners have narrowed their focus to two players, who are believed to be Mac Jones and Trey Lance.
Jones seems to be getting the most buzz following a prolific 2020 season for Alabama. He threw for 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 77.4 percent of his passes.
Like Jones, Lance only has one full year of starting experience after the FCS moved its season to the spring. The North Dakota State star had 2,786 passing yards and 28 touchdowns while failing to throw an interception. He also ran for 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Jones' numbers are massive, but it's fair to wonder how he'll do against NFL defenses without the kind of talent he had around him at Alabama. He isn't especially mobile, either.
Lance, meanwhile, might face a big adjustment after not only having played at a lower level but also missing all of 2020.
Whatever the 49ers do, the outcome will continue to be debated by fans for weeks given the stakes.
How Far Does Justin Fields Fall (If at All)?
The discourse around Justin Fields in the buildup to the draft has reignited the conversation on how Black quarterbacks are portrayed compared to their white counterparts.
ESPN's Dan Orlovsky drew criticism when he painted a picture of Fields as a "last-guy-in, first-guy-out-type of quarterback" based on opinions he had heard:
I love a good @danorlovsky7 roast sesh as much as anybody BUT..
I think folks are missing that he was answering my question about “Why the narrative has changed about Fields so much?”
He very assertively said “These are not my opinions”
Orlovsky addressed the matter once his comments blew up and presented a more positive picture of the Ohio State star. Still, it's impossible to divorce what he originally said and the history surrounding Black quarterbacks.
These media narratives created from anonymous sources impact the perception of Black QBs. Fair or not, these labels stick & impact how fan bases view QB prospects beyond the pre-draft process. It’s all good to offer critiques but it would be nice to see non-stereotypical analysis
.@Foxworth24 has a PSA for all draft analysts when discussing quarterbacks.
"Do NOT be unaware of the history of Black QBs and them often getting pegged with this criticism ... It's important to be specific on what you're seeing." pic.twitter.com/Zn9gHQrh6X
Fields didn't have a great junior season compared to his first year with the Buckeyes, but the Sugar Bowl was a perfect illustration of what can make him special. He went 22-of-28 for 385 yards, six touchdowns and one interception while running for 42 yards on eight carries. He also returned despite taking a brutal hit from Clemson linebacker James Skalski.
A case could be made that Fields is the second-best quarterback available behind Lawrence. He sits second overall on the B/R NFL Scouting Department's Big Board 3.0.
Assuming the 49ers opt for Jones or Lance, Fields could be in play for the Atlanta Falcons as they embark on their rebuild. If Atlanta goes in a different direction, the Denver Broncos at No. 9 would be the next team potentially in need of a new quarterback. If he slips out of the top 10, perhaps another franchise gets aggressive and moves up to take him.
Aaron Rodgers famously fell all the way to No. 24 in the 2005 draft. That couldn't possibly happen to Fields, right?
49ers Rumors: SF 'Relishing' Attention Surrounding No. 3 Pick in 2021 NFL Draft
Apr 27, 2021
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch prior to an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
The San Francisco 49ers are reportedly enjoying the fact that nobody is quite sure who they will select with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft on Thursday night.
According to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, one source said the Niners are "relishing" the attention that comes along with the uncertainty surrounding their status.
It is widely assumed that the Jacksonville Jaguars will take Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence first overall followed by the New York Jets selecting BYU quarterback Zach Wilson second overall. That would leave the 49ers with a choice between quarterbacks Mac Jones of Alabama, Trey Lance of North Dakota State and Justin Fields of Ohio State.
Florio noted that the 49ers, who traded up from No. 12 to No. 3 with the Miami Dolphins, may have a pick in mind right now but could still change their decision between now and draft night.
Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan divulged Monday that the 49ers like each of the top five quarterback prospects in the 2021 draft class entering Thursday's first round.
"We knew that there was three at the time [of the trade with Miami]. That's why we thought [No.] 3 was a good spot to go to. After going through this whole process, I felt good about five guys at [No.] 3. Yeah, we had a guy probably at first back then, but we knew that wasn't set in stone.
"And we knew the only way we could figure out a little bit more, especially when you can't work out guys, you can't meet with these people, there's a lot of things you can't do this year. The only way we could go off that is if we got closer to where we could do a little more in-depth thing that we didn't have to hide. We did. In that time, I think every candidate has gotten stronger. And yeah, we probably started with one in mind, but that one has gotten better since and so have all the other candidates."
General manager John Lynch said he and Shanahan will make the decision together but that he will ultimately "defer" to Shanahan.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport (h/t NFL.com'sJelani Scott) reported Monday the 49ers have narrowed their choices to Jones or Lance at No. 3 based on the assumption that Lawrence and Wilson will be gone.
Jones was considered a lower-end first-rounder entering the draft process, but he has seemingly shot up the boards, and the 49ers have been viewed as a top suitor since they attended his pro day.
In addition to being perhaps the most NFL-ready of any quarterback in the draft, Jones is coming off a highly productive season at Alabama, as he completed 77.4 percent of his passes for 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also led the Crimson Tide to an undefeated record and a national championship.
Lance is more raw, and he only playedone showcase gamelast season because the FCS didn't play fall football. There is no denying what he accomplished in 2019, though, albeit against a far lower level of competition than what Jones faced during his time at Alabama.
Lance completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 2,786 yards, 28 touchdowns and no interceptions, plus he rushed for 1,100 yards and 14 scores. The Bison also went undefeated and won an FCS national title.
The 49ers will have the luxury of allowing whoever they pick to sit and learn behind veteran signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo for perhaps as much as an entire season before taking the reins. Because of that, they may be more willing to roll the dice on a player with a higher ceiling like Lance rather than Jones.
49ers' Draft Gamble Will Likely Make or Break the Current Team and Regime
Apr 27, 2021
FILE- In this Jan. 24, 2020, file photo, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch, right, and head coach Kyle Shanahan, left, watch as players practice at the team's NFL football training facility in Santa Clara, Calif. The San Francisco 49ers have agreed on a one-year contract with free agent tight end Jordan Reed, Lynch announced Monday, Aug. 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)
The 2021 NFL Draft is three days out now, and the San Francisco 49ers are a national focal point as reports continue to emerge regarding their plans for the No. 3 overall pick.
That's where the drama starts in this draft, mainly because the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets appear to be set to select Trevor Lawrence from Clemson and Zach Wilson from BYU, respectively, in the top two spots. But also because, for all intents and purposes, whoever the 49ers select will cost them three first-round picks as well as a third-round selection.
That's what general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan paid the Miami Dolphins for the right to be on the clock after the Jaguars and Jets.
There's no question they traded up for a quarterback—nobody would sacrifice that much for any other position and they haven't attempted to suggest this wasn't a move for a signal-caller—but now the question is which quarterback they'll ultimately choose.
What we know
Barring a dramatic turn of events, either Justin Fields from Ohio State, Mac Jones from Alabama or Trey Lance from North Dakota State will be on San Francisco's roster by the end of the day Thursday.
What we're pretty sure we know
It's down to Jones and Lance.
That's according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, who reported Sunday night that "several sources say the focus does appear to have shifted" away from Fields and on to those two quarterback prospects, despite the fact they're polar opposites in many ways.
ESPN's Todd McShay reported Monday that "many in the 49ers' personnel department" are pushing for Lance, while Peter King of NBC Sports—who also believes it's a "two-horse race"—wrote that "Shanahan believes Jones is the accurate coach-on-the-field type he craves."
At one point, Fields was the betting favorite to land in San Francisco. Now? At DraftKings, Jones is the overwhelming fave at -305, Lance is the clear No. 2 at +225 and Fields' odds of being selected third have plummeted to +700.
What remains confusing
Shanahan told the media Monday that while they traded up with "one candidate in mind," there were five quarterbacks he was "OK with taking."
"I feel good about five guys at three," he said, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, while adding that "all have gotten better since" the trade-up.
What in the god of football's name is that supposed to mean? Shanahan is likely being deliberately and arguably unnecessarily vague. If I had to guess, I'd imagine he did indeed make the move with a clear favorite in mind, but now the question is whether the organization has become legitimately confused by pre-draft developments, or if they're just trolling us.
There's a scenario in which they foolishly traded up in hopes of landing Wilson and then realized he wasn't likely to fall to them and recalibrated. That would seem unlikely, but Sam Darnold was still on the Jets roster when the 49ers made that deal with the Dolphins.
There's another scenario in which they've loved either Fields, Jones or Lance from the get-go and just refuse to come out and say it just in case the Jaguars or Jets do something wildly unexpected.
And then there's a scenario in which they traded up simply to ensure they'd get one of the top quarterbacks but have yet to come to a consensus on how they rank those top five guys.
That last scenario seems like the most plausible of the three. It should also be terrifying if you're a 49ers fan.
The ultimate gamble
Regardless of which quarterback they take, the 49ers are putting all of their eggs in this basket.
Two extra first-round picks and a third-rounder just to move up nine spots? Knowing it's possible either Lance or Jones could have fallen to them in the No. 12 spot, or at least within that range?
Knowing that more first-round picks become busts than success stories?
Knowing (presumably) that eight of the past 10 quarterbacks drafted in the top 10 following trade-ups have failed to deliver? (Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Mitchell Trubisky, Jared Goff, Carson Wentz, Robert Griffin III, Blaine Gabbert and Mark Sanchez versus Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.)
Knowing (if they did their research) that in modern NFL history, a team has never traded into the top five and landed a quarterback who became its primary starter for more than six years?
Knowing that Jones is not the type of athlete NFL teams typically value when scouting quarterbacks in this era?
Knowing that Lance is one of the most mysterious first-round-caliber quarterback prospects of this era because he threw just 319 passes at the Football Championship Subdivision level and 113 in high school, barely played football in 2020 and didn't benefit from a Scouting Combine or private workouts this spring?
Knowing that Jimmy Garoppolo remains on the roster, and that they nearly won the Super Bowl with Garoppolo under center just 15 months ago?
It's really hard to believe they'd make this large a gamble for anyone except maybe Lawrence. We're not talking about a move for the clear-cut No. 1 quarterback in this class. This isn't landing them Lawrence or Joe Burrow or Kyler Murray, or Andrew Luck or Michael Vick or Peyton Manning.
This is a lottery ticket. It's a move for a quarterback (regardless of which one it is) who history indicates is more likely to be a Darnold, a Trubisky or a Marcus Mariota than a Matt Ryan or a Philip Rivers.
Those last two are the only quarterbacks drafted second, third, fourth or fifth overall this century who have become quality long-term starters for the teams that drafted them. The other 10 top-five-but-not-first-overall picks at quarterback? Blake Bortles, Darnold, Griffin, Joey Harrington, Mariota, Sanchez, Tua Tagovailoa,Trubisky, Vince Young and Wentz.
But here the 49ers are, set to roll the dice with a move that very well could work but is statistically likely to backfire.
If it does pan out, Lynch and Shanahan will look like geniuses and the 49ers will likely contend for years to come with a franchise quarterback, a strong offensive line, a top-notch offensive system and a defense that features superstars Nick Bosa and Fred Warner and standouts Arik Armstead, Jimmie Ward and Javon Kinlaw.
But if it doesn't? If they take Jones and he hits a wall and can't become more than a game manager at the NFL level? If they take Lance and he fails to blossom beyond the raw prospect he is today? There's almost no way this regime will survive without those three consecutive first-round picks along with that 2021 third-rounder.
If that happens, the margin for error will become far too tiny for San Francisco to compete in the stacked NFC West. Not only will those picks have gone down the drain, but the time and resources dedicated to making that quarterback work would take another toll entirely.
Plus, think of how many prime years would be wasted for guys like Bosa, Warner, Armstead, George Kittle, Trent Williams, Mike McGlinchey, Kyle Juszczyk and Deebo Samuel.
The 49ers' window is open right now, but they're a veteran team and the roster will only become more expensive. If this pick goes bust, the only alternative will be to jeopardize the roster by paying to keep Garoppolo or pursuing a veteran quarterback elsewhere.
It's a hole from which there's no escape.
That doesn't make this a bad move until it officially fails, and there's something admirable about going all in. But if indeed the 49ers lose this hand, they're such a talented team that we'll likely spend another decade wondering what could have been had they simply checked or folded.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA/MI), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).
21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL/TN/MI only. Odds and lines subject to change. Eligibility restrictions apply. See DraftKings.com/Sportsbook for full terms and conditions.
Brad Gagnon has covered the NFL for Bleacher Report since 2012. Follow him on Twitter:@Brad_Gagnon.
49ers' John Lynch: 'I'll Always Defer' to Shanahan on QBs Amid Mac Jones Rumors
Apr 26, 2021
FILE- In this Jan. 24, 2020, file photo, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch, right, and head coach Kyle Shanahan, left, watch as players practice at the team's NFL football training facility in Santa Clara, Calif. The San Francisco 49ers have agreed on a one-year contract with free agent tight end Jordan Reed, Lynch announced Monday, Aug. 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch refused to give insight into the team trading up in a quarterback-heavy NFL draft, telling reporters he would "always defer" to head coach and play-caller Kyle Shanahan regarding quarterback decisions.
His comments come amid a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, who said Sunday that the team is choosing between Alabama quarterback Mac Jones and North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance.
The 49ers traded up from their No. 12 pick by sending it along with a package of future draft picks to the Miami Dolphins in March.
Shanahan shed some light on the 49ers' mindset heading into Thursday, though he didn't touch on anyone specific. That's a change from the team's plan from when they originally moved up in the draft, as hetold reportersthat they swapped picks "with one candidate in mind."
Kyle Shanahan says the #49ers had a QB in mind when they traded up but wanted to evaluate all the options. Says all of the prospects have gotten better in their minds, including that guy.
Won’t say who: “No one’s gonna know whether we know or not until we pick.” 🤔🤭🤔🤫😬😜
Days removed from the draft, he said the team would be happy with any of five players with the No. 3 pick, and he's not taking any input from draft experts or anyone on social media.
Kyle Shanahan said he and John Lynch are not paying attention to what draft experts and 49ers' fans are saying the team should do on social media. "It is so irresponsible to let something like that affect your decision."
What does all this mean for Jimmy Garoppolo, whose future has been in flux ever since the 49ers traded up? Shanahan avoided the question and countered with some existentialism, instead.
Asked whether he can guarantee that Jimmy Garoppolo will be on his roster Sunday, Kyle Shanahan says, "I can't guarantee that anybody in the world will be alive Sunday." Things getting pretty grim out here in these zoom streets.
That's another departure from their mindset when they traded up, when ESPN'sAdam Schefterreported that the team was holding on to Garoppolo even though they would have their pick of most of the top quarterbacks in the draft class.
Garoppolo has proven himself worthy of the starting job, but for all his success, he's injury-prone. He has only made 32 starts since joining the league in 2014, though that's because he began his NFL career as the backup to Tom Brady with the New England Patriots. Since coming to San Francisco, he has only appeared in 31 games across four seasons.
In 2020, he posted a 67.1 percent completion rate with 1,096 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions.
As it stands, there's no insight into what the 49ers will do on Thursday, and Shanahan certainly doesn't sound like he'll be revealing anything more anytime soon.
All eyes are on the quarterback prospects in the 2021 NFL draft and where they may land. Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson appear set to be the No. 1 and No...
FILE - North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance throws at the school's football NFL Pro Day in Fargo, N.D., in this Friday, March, 12, 2021, file photo. Lance will likely be one of the first two players drafted from non-Football Bowl Subdivision programs next week. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King, File)
The San Francisco 49ers appear likely to select a quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, but there is still reportedly debate about which one will be the final choice.
ESPN's Todd McShay provided the latest buzz surrounding the 49ers' decision:
"I'm told that many in the 49ers' personnel department have pushed for North Dakota State QB Trey Lance but that coach Kyle Shanahan wants to draft Alabama's Mac Jones. One person I spoke to even heard that Shanahan might "acquiesce" to the scouting department on the selection, but others have said that seems unlikely. At this time of year, there is a lot of seed planting with the rumor mill, and it could certainly be the case here."
Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson are widely expected to be the first two players off the board, presumably leaving San Francisco with the choice between Mac Jones, Trey Lance and Justin Fields at quarterback.
Peter Kingof NBC Sports reported that "it's a two-horse race" between Jones and Lance.
There are some similarities between the two as both were members of dominant teams that won national championships. Jones led Alabama to a perfect 2020 season and a title in the college football playoffs, while Lance helped North Dakota State win the FCS championship in 2019.
The skill sets among the quarterbacks differ, however, with Jones known for his pocket presence and accuracy while Lance excels with his strong arm and athleticism.
The different picks could create a significantly different timeline for the organization as well.
Jones could be more NFL-ready after excelling against SEC competition last year. Lance played only one game last season before opting out amid the COVID-19 pandemic, while his only competition has been against FCS teams. It could lead to a slower transition to the next level.
