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2021 NFL Draft: Deshaun Watson on the move in latest NFL mock draft

By A.J. Fagerlin

Nov 26, 2020; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4), who could be traded prior to the 2021 NFL Draft, smiles in the huddle during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2020; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4), who could be traded prior to the 2021 NFL Draft, smiles in the huddle during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers, North Dakota State Bison, 2021 NFL Draft
Jan 11, 2020; Frisco, Texas, USA; North Dakota State Bison quarterback Trey Lance (5), possible 2021 NFL Draft target of the San Francisco 49ers, runs the ball in the first quarter against the James Madison Dukes at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

Quarterback. 6. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. player. 42. North Dakota State. Trey Lance

Another big splash for a quarterback, as the San Francisco 49ers jump a couple of other possible quarterback-needy teams to the sixth pick of the 2021 NFL Draft to select Trey Lance from North Dakota State.

While the Philadelphia Eagles, who have a ton of needs, gain more valuable draft capital, the Niners take a stab at finding their dynamic quarterback of the future. Trey Lance, as I’ve said about each of the other quarterbacks selected before him in the 2021 NFL Draft, just brings a whole other dynamic to his new offense.

The 49ers reached a Super Bowl just last season with Jimmy Garoppolo, but I think their offense really needs an added spark at the quarterback position if they want to get over the hump. Jimmy G, as he’s known, is a fine quarterback, but he seems to be more of a “game manager” type of quarterback than a real game-changer.

While that type of quarterback can succeed and has made it far in the NFL playoffs in the past, look at the teams remaining in the playoffs this season. Teams quarterbacked by the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. All of whom are dynamic playmakers in their own right.

A player like Trey Lance would be an impressive Kyle Shanahan-led offense even better. Lance, like the aforementioned QB prospects, thrives when using his legs. He may be the best true running quarterback in the class, often using designed quarterback runs to gain yardage and get into the end zone.

But Lance has a very impressive arm as well. He has the arm talent to make every throw that you could ask of him. Launching deep balls, zipping into tight windows or displaying touch fitting balls into holes in zone coverage, Lance has impressed in his limited experience as a starting quarterback.

It would make sense to give Lance a year or two to sit and learn how to run an NFL offense, but the Niners are a team that could likely afford that. If they get healthy, they should be right back in the thick of things in the NFC West.

Given that time, can you imagine what a dynamic player like Lance could bring to a Shanahan offense? I can see a wonderful blend of the typical zone run/play action that Shanahan is known for as well as a Greg Roman-like option and QB run-heavy offense that the Niners had with Colin Kaepernick for their previous Super Bowl run and what he runs now with Lamar Jackson in Baltimore.

Trey Lance is the type of playmaker that has the upside worth chasing, even this early in the draft. San Francisco, in my mind, has likely made it as far as they will go with Jimmy G under center. They need a dynamic player at the position to keep up with the likes of Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray in the ever-competitive NFC West.

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