The East-West Shrine Game takes place this Saturday, and the week leading up to any college all star game is much more important than the game itself. The week of practices are when coaches and scouts get a chance to observe players going through drills, and also get a chance to start meeting one-on-one with players. NFL teams have a limited number of private visits they can host, but the all star games, Combine and campus workouts provide teams numerous chances to get to know draft prospects.
The San Francisco 49ers have at least one visit under their belt at the Shrine Game. NFL.com has a rundown of prospect meetings from Monday, and they are reporting the 49ers met with Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams. The meetings could be a simple matter of getting clarifying information, or getting contact information for a later visit, but it indicates at least a modest sign of interest in the prospect.
Adams transferred to Oregon from Eastern Washington, using the NCAA rule that allows a player who graduates to transfer and play one more season without sitting out any time. He was unable to join Oregon until two weeks prior to the start of the season because he needed to pass a math exam to finish his degree at EWU (he passed). In spite of the limited prep time, he won the starting job, and put together impressive numbers over the course of the season. He missed three games with a broken pinky, but finished the season first nationally in yards per attempt and passer rating. SB Nation's Kevin Trahan broke down a season he described as "one of the best QB seasons of the last decade."
The 49ers currently have Colin Kaepernick, Blaine Gabbert, and Dylan Thompson under contract. Gabbert finished the season as the starter, and has one year remaining on his contract. Kaepernick was benched midway through the season, and then had surgeries on his shoulder, knee and thumb. His 2016 base salary becomes fully guaranteed on April 1. Thompson was promoted from the practice squad after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent.