SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Three weeks after the San Francisco 49ers‘ daring commerce as much as the No. three choose within the 2021 NFL draft, coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned the workforce was already comfy sufficient to draft three of the highest 5 quarterbacks, however the workforce might “get there” with Nos. four and 5.
Over the previous month, Shanahan, basic supervisor John Lynch and their staffs put within the remaining work to not solely see if they might get comfy with all 5 of them — Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, BYU’s Zach Wilson, Alabama’s Mac Jones, North Dakota State’s Trey Lance and Ohio State’s Justin Fields — but additionally resolve which one they consider is best-suited to be their alternative.
Talking to media for about 30 minutes, days earlier than they need to make that call official, Shanahan, who was a late addition to the annual pre-draft information convention, did his greatest to not tip the Niners’ hand and mentioned they’ve certainly grown keen on all 5 quarterback prospects.
“We knew that there was three on the time,” Shanahan mentioned. “That is why we thought [No.] three was a great spot to go to. After going by means of this complete course of, I felt good about 5 guys at [No.] three. Yeah, we had a man most likely at first again then, however we knew that wasn’t set in stone. And we knew the one approach we might determine somewhat bit extra, particularly when you possibly can’t work out guys, you possibly can’t meet with these folks, there’s lots of issues you possibly can’t do that 12 months. The one approach we might go off that’s if we bought nearer to the place we might perform a little extra in-depth factor that we did not have to cover. We did. In that point, I believe each candidate has gotten stronger. And yeah, we most likely began with one in thoughts, however that one has gotten higher since and so have all the opposite candidates.”
For the reason that commerce was introduced, the 49ers have been working underneath the frequent presumption that Lawrence and Wilson will go together with the primary two picks, leaving them a alternative among the many group of Jones, Lance and Fields.
Quickly after the commerce, Jones was the participant mostly linked to the Niners by league observers and considered the third man on the checklist behind Wilson and Lawrence. Lynch and Shanahan spoke to the media on March 29 and flew to Jones’ second professional day on March 30, whereas one other 49ers contingent, together with assistant basic supervisor Adam Peters, went to Ohio State to see Fields.
After that, the 49ers additionally performed a distinguished function in second professional days for Lance and Fields, with Shanahan and Lynch attending each. All through, Lynch mentioned the Niners have gathered opinions on all three gamers from coaches, scouts, faculty coaches, non-public quarterback coaches and members of the family.
And whereas Lynch mentioned he encourages everybody to consider strongly of their opinions, the choice will in the end fall to him and, particularly, Shanahan.
“It has been an extremely thorough course of, however in the end somebody has bought to be charged with making a choice and on this case, it is the each of us,” Lynch mentioned. “Everybody has of their contract ‘you do that,’ and the draft is mine, however I advised Kyle from the start that he and I are doing this collectively. And in relation to quarterbacks … we have now a head coach who can be our offensive playcaller, I’ll at all times defer to him. What’s cool about that’s I believe Kyle respects my opinion sufficient, he at all times desires it and in the end, we arrive at choices, we are going to and are available Thursday we have now a choose that hopefully makes everybody proud. However that can be judged in years to return and we have now carried out our greatest to verify it is an excellent resolution for this franchise.”
One other piece of the puzzle that ought to get readability quickly is what is going to grow to be of incumbent starter Jimmy Garoppolo. Lynch and Shanahan have been adamant that they, barring a too-hard-to-resist commerce supply, intend to maintain Garoppolo whereas the drafted rookie learns behind him and competes.
That tone appeared to melt a bit Monday when Lynch and Shanahan had been requested a number of occasions about Garoppolo, together with whether or not he can be on the roster the day after the draft.
“I can not assure that anyone on the planet can be alive Sunday, so I can not assure you who can be on our roster on Sunday,” Shanahan mentioned. “So, that goes for all of us.”
On a much less macabre notice, Lynch mentioned he was in contact with Garoppolo final weekend and that Garoppolo has been part of the digital conferences and plans to be on the offseason exercise program.
“Jimmy’s been utterly skilled, as he at all times has been with us,” Lynch mentioned. “Jimmy is aware of — I believe one factor we have at all times tried to do with all our gamers and Jimmy as effectively — is simply be very up entrance and trustworthy. And with what we’re doing and why we’re doing it, and my expertise as a participant, when folks try this, you possibly can reside with that.”
Whereas the NFL world awaits the Niners’ choose at No. three, Lynch did verify one resolution that has been made. Proper deal with Mike McGlinchey, San Francisco’s first-round choose in 2018, may have his fifth-year possibility picked up. Which means, barring a contract extension earlier than then, McGlinchey will earn a totally assured $10.88 million in 2022.
Within the meantime, all eyes stay on which quarterback, precisely, McGlinchey can be blocking for in 2021.
“Do we all know precisely who we would like?” Shanahan mentioned. “Possibly. In all probability. However possibly not. I do not really feel like we have to say that. That is not only for our case. However a lot of stuff occurs between now and the draft and you don’t need the entire league figuring out precisely what you are set on 4 days earlier than the draft and we additionally care about lots of people who’ve been concerned on this … I do not know if I need the league to know. I do not suppose it essentially helps and that is why nobody is actually going to know whether or not we all know or not till we choose. That is form of what we’re comfy protecting it at.”