FanPost

Should the 49ers take a QB with their first pick in the 2017 Draft?

Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

In case you missed the 49ers 2015 season, Colin Kaepernick was pretty bad. So was Blaine Gabbert. Who was worse is up to your own discretion, but neither is in the 49ers long term plans at QB. Jeff Driskel is an intriguing prospect, but he's a 6th round pick and his name is not Tom Brady, so I doubt GM Trent Baalke is pinning his hopes on him either. The 49ers will almost certainly be looking for a QB in the 2017 NFL Draft, and the team figures to have a fairly high pick. A first round QB seems like the obvious route, but should the 49ers take the bait?

PFF recently released their list of the top 101 players in CFB, and the first QB did not appear until 6, which was Clemson's Deshaun Watson. Of the 5 above him, 4 are eligible for the 2017 draft: RB Christian McCaffrey, EDGE Myles Garrett, RB Leonard Fournette, and EDGE Derek Barnett. All are blue-chip prospects that look like top 10 selections, barring injury or a performance dropoff. Of course there will be players that come out of nowhere and shoot up draft boards once the season starts, but as of now, these 5 players are the elite of the 2017 draft. From my perspective, it seems the 49ers will be taking a QB, Edge rusher, or RB in the 1st round next year. For argument's sake, let's see the best draft-eligible players(combination of PFF, NFL.com, and my opinion) from each of those positions for the 2017 NFL Draft:

QB

*1. Deshaun Watson, Clemson - Watson is the clear cut #1 QB heading into the 2016 college football season. Outstanding as both a passer and runner, Watson's delivery, arm strength, and accuracy make him more than just a running QB.

*2. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma - Baker Mayfield was recently granted permission to play at Oklahoma in 2017, thanks to the newly coined "Baker Mayfield rule," so it's a bit unclear as to whether he intends to enter the 2017 draft. If he does go the pro-route, NFL teams will be ecstatic. Mayfield is the ultimate competitor: you'll rarely ever see a player who wants to win as much as he does. Mayfield embodies the terms of "x-factor," "it," and "winner."

*3. Chad Kelly, Ole Miss - Kelly will be one of the most polarizing figures leading up to draft day due to off the field issues, but his talent is undeniable. The nephew of HOF'er Jim Kelly, Chad has a rocket arm, lightning quick release, and the ability to elude defenders.

*4. Luke Falk, Washington State - Falk isn't a household name, but with another season like 2015 where he threw for over 4500 yards with 38 TDs and a 70% completion rate, he will be. Falk has the prototypical frame evaluators look for in a QB, along with good pocket presence. Jared Goff comes to mind when watching Falk.

5. JT Barrett, Ohio State - 2016 will be Barrett's first year heading into the season as the unquestioned starter, and he looks to make the most of it with an Ohio State team that lost a lot of talent but is still very stacked. Barrett's decision-making, mobility, and leadership skills are all among the best in the country.

*6. Brad Kaaya, Miami

7. Seth Russell, Baylor

8. Pat Mahomes, Texas Tech

9. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State

10. Greg Ward Jr., Houston

RB

*1. Leonard Fournette, LSU - All too often a RB gets compared to Adrian Peterson coming out of college, but this time might be the real deal. Fournette is an absolute freak of nature, with elite speed, power, and agility. LSU's star tailback is a better pure runner than 2015's #4 pick Ezekiel Elliot. Fournette has a legitimate shot at being the 1st overall pick in next year's draft.

*2. Christian McCaffrey, Stanford - The man who many thought deserved the Heisman in 2015, McCaffrey will be without mauler and new 49er Joshua Garnett, but still figures to put up huge numbers. McCaffrey lacks natural power, but his elusivness, receiving out of the backfield, and drive are second to none.

*3. Dalvin Cook, Florida State - There isn't a RB in the nation who's a bigger threat to take it to the house on any given play, and that' s saying something considering the 2 guys above him. If Fournette is Adrian Peterson, Cook is Jamaal Charles.

*4. Nick Chubb, Georgia - Chubb's 2015 knee injury was absolutely gruesome, but Georgia's star tailback is on pace to return in 2016. If he looks anything like the Nick Chubb of the past, who filled in seamlessly for Todd Gurley, he'll be one of the best backs in the nation.

5. Samaje Perine, Oklahoma - Perine is a nightmare to try to tackle, much like a bowling ball rolling down Everest, or 49ers back Carlos Hyde.

6. Royce Freeman, Oregon

7. Wayne Gallman, Clemson

8. Jalen Hurd, Tennessee

9. James Conner, Pittsburgh

10. Elijah Hood, North Carolina-Chapel Hill

EDGE

*1. Myles Garrett, Texas A&M - Garrett is the best defensive player in the nation, bar none. Garrett has 22.5 sacks, 20 hits, and 69 hurries over his first 2 seasons, with +49.7 and +42.4 pass rushing grades to match. Not since Jadeveon Clowney has CFB seen a more athletic edge rusher, but Garrett compares more favorably to former Aggie and Superbowl MVP Von Miller.

*2. Derek Barnett, Tennessee - Barnett may not be quite the explosive edge rusher Garrett is, but he's not far behind as a player. Barnett exceled as a run defender from the first day he stepped on the field at Tennessee, and blew up as a pass rusher last year, earning a higher pass rushing grade than Garrett, at 42.7.

3. Charles Harris, Missouri - Harris has certifiably the best spin move in the nation, and he's not afraid to use it. Offensive lineman simply can't block him for very long. Harris looks to be the next great pass rusher from Missouri.

4. Tim Williams, Alabama - Williams isn't on the field all that often for the Tide, but when he is, he's disruptive. He logged 52 pressures on only 157 rushes last year. Williams has only played 15% of snaps at Alabama the last 2 years, so it will be interesting to see what he does with extended playing time.

5. Devonte Fields, Louisville - Fields has had a trying college career thanks to discipline issues, but when he's on the field, he's a difference maker.

6. Carl Lawson, Auburn

7. Ryan Anderson, Alabama

8. Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss

9. Deatrich Wise, Arkansas

10. Keionta Davis, Tenn-Chattanooga

* Denotes likely 1st round pick

The 2017 draft appears to be especially talented at the QB, RB, and EDGE positions. The QB position is especially crowded this year, with the 2-10 spots being very fluid. Brad Kaaya is higher on a lot of people's lists, while Seth Russell from Baylor has all the tools to be great. The Jets, Browns, and 49ers seem like the only teams who will be in the market for a 1st round QB as of now. The Dolphins, Chargers, Saints, and Cardinals could be joining them however, with Ryan Tannehill a ? and Rivers, Brees, and Palmer nearing the end of their careers. If the 49ers are as bad as some expect, they'll certainly have a shot at some talented signal callers, but should they pull the trigger if there's, say, a Myles Garrett or Leonard Fournette on the board and wait until the 2nd round for a guy like Russell or Barrett?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.