NFL mock draft, 3 rounds: QBs, trades, surprises in latest predictions
2021 NFL mock draft: 3rd pick
Alabama. 3. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. Mac Jones. 42
49ers GM/HC: John Lynch/Kyle Shanahan
For weeks, people in the know have been saying that the San Francisco 49ers’ blockbuster trade to move up from the 12th pick to the 3rd pick was for Mac Jones, or at least that’s what it sounds like.
To rattle off a few of them:
- Chris Simms of NBC Sports, who knows Shanahan well
- Adam Schefter of ESPN
- Ian Rapoport of NFL Network
- Peter Schrager of NFL Network
- Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network
Do we need to rattle off some more?
Many 49ers fans seem to be in denial about this even though the heaviest of heavy hitters in the media are reporting it. Ultimately, nothing is set in stone until the team turns in a card on draft night, but all of the smoke is leading to the Mac Jones fire for the 49ers.
But why?
For one, Jones was one of the most accurate passers in all of college football the past couple of seasons. He was tremendous under pressure this past season. Despite the fact that he isn’t as athletic as the other top quarterbacks in this class, he’s no hack out there.
The 49ers understandably want to be solidified at this position for the foreseeable future and Jimmy Garoppolo is not the player they envision solidifying it. He’s struggled badly with injuries and at this point, they just can’t count on him staying healthy for a full season.
Jones comes from playing in Steve Sarkisian’s offense at Alabama after Sarkisian had initially replaced Shanahan with the Atlanta Falcons following the 2016 season. The Falcons apparently wanted Sarkisian to run Shanahan’s offense (which had helped Atlanta to an NFC title in 2016) so it’s likely that Sarkisian had concepts in his offense at Alabama with Mac Jones that appeal to the 49ers on tape.
With the 49ers’ group of skill position players excelling after the catch as well as at the catch point and Jones excelling at distributing the ball and making accurate throws downfield, it’s not so crazy to think this could work.