The San Francisco 49ers are in need of a long-term solution at quarterback. This year’s draft class features enough question marks at the QB position that it seems unlikely the team spends their No. 2 pick on the position. But after that, it seems like anything is fair game.
In his most recent 2017 NFL mock draft, SB Nation’s Dan Kadar went two rounds. He had the 49ers selecting Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas in the first round, and then Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer in the second round. Kadar had Mitchell Trubisky going No. 12 to the Cleveland Browns, DeShaun Watson going No. 13 to the Arizona Cardinals, and Patrick Mahomes going No. 25 to the Houston Texans.
If Kizer, or any of those “big four” quarterbacks are there at No. 34, do you think it is all but certain the 49ers go QB at that point? After that group, it drops to Davis Webb, Nathan Peterman, Brad Kaaya, and others. The 49ers decision depends on a combination of things. Do they like that available QB (from the four high names) that much more than the next batch of QBs later in the draft? Do they like them enough compared to the best available options at other positions? Are they still planning on a 2018 play for Kirk Cousins?
A lot is in play, and we really don’t know what to make of the team’s plans with the position. It was never easy to assess what Trent Baalke had in mind, although we knew an ACL injury was likely involved. But now, we are starting with a relatively clean slate. Aside from no QB at No. 2, I really don’t know what to expect when No. 34 comes around.