Golden Nuggets: C.J. Beathard Wanted By Kyle Shanahan

The NFL draft came and went last week. The 49ers were a busy team this weekend and they got busy working in a hurry. The 1st trade they executed was a swap of 1st round picks with the Chicago Bears that included the 49ers getting 2 additional 3rd round picks (one for 2018) and a 4th round pick to swap one spot in the 1st round. In total, the 49ers completed 6 trades that netted 10 new players and 2 picks for the 2018 draft. New GM John Lynch and new head coach Kyle Shanahan navigated the draft process like a couple of veterans and received praise from draft experts.

The 49ers’ 1st day landed 2 of their top 3 prospects according to John Lynch. The Solomon Thomas pick was anticipated when the 49ers had the 2nd pick, but they got him even after trading the #2 overall selection. The big surprise came when they traded back into the 1st round with their NFC West foe Seattle Seahawks to select LB Reuben Foster, who slid all the way down the board to #31. Foster was the star LB for a great Alabama defense and was rated one of the top players in the draft by most draft experts. A combination of the shoulder injury, diluted drug test, and combine issues saw him drop to the 49ers. In Foster, the 49ers get a player who is a seek and destroy defensive player. At Alabama, Foster was always around the football and consistently made plays for the Crimson Tide.

On Friday and Saturday, the 49ers started drafting offensive players to fill out Kyle Shanahan’s offense. The surprising pick was the 3rd round pick that the team traded up for to draft Iowa’s quarterback C.J. Beathard. There was not much talk of C.J. before the draft. Names like Mitch Trubisky, Deshaun Watson, Patrick Mahomes, and DeShone Kizer were hyped as the best QBs in the draft. But according to reports, that hype did not apply to Kyle. Peter King mentioned that C.J. was the “only quarterback Shanahan wanted in this draft”. Kyle is known as an offensive genius and quarterback guru, so it will be interesting to see how C.J. plays if given the chance. If Kyle says that C.J.’s the quarterback he wants, that is the guy John Lynch needed to get and he fulfilled Kyle’s wishes.

49ers Links

Getting their guy 28 spots later | From #3 To #31 (Florio)

Good draft for Lynch/Shanahan | 1st Draft (Wagoner)

Getting their guy | Targeting Beathard (Maiocco)

Back On Track (McGee)

Winners in the draft | Good Draft Grades (Harris)

Shocking to everyone | Bears Shock 49ers (Kerr-Dineen)

A very interesting look at the Lynch/Shanahan draft room | Inside 49ers Draft Room (King)

Kyle Likens C.J. To Cousins (Patra)

No wonder Kyle wanted him | Beathard - Cousins Comparisons (Alper)

Thought Bears Were Taking Solomon (Dickerson)

Catching Kyle’s Eye (PFF)

Can Kyle turn him into a reliable weapon | Small Receiver (Williams)

Jimmie Ward To Safety (Wagoner)

Adding depth | New OL (Maiocco)

Possibly Sleeper (Aschoff)

More competition is important | Offensive Linemen Signed (Barrows)

Former Viking Signed (Biderman)

Fusco, Barnes To Give OL Depth (Inman)

Peter King In 49ers Draft Room (Jones)

Post Draft Concern (Graziano)

OL Depth (Branch)

Good move | Jimmie’s Option Picked Up (Biderman)

Veteran Help Added (Alper)

Only QB Kyle Wanted (Biderman)

Center Expected To Sign (Maiocco)

5th Year For Jimmie (49ers Staff)

Need to use him well | Plans For Arik (Biderman)

Weapon In The Slot (PFF)

Former Ram To Be Added (Biderman)

Top of the class | Grades Are Out (Fann)

Missed On Pass Rushers (Branch)

Decision on Jimmie (Inman)

Picked Up 5th Year (Branch)

Observations (Jones)

They have known each other | Lynch and Thomas Were Stanford Classmates (Smith)

Draft Class On Social Media (Martin)

On To The 2018 Draft (Biderman)

Lynch - Shanahan Disagreements (Jones)

Meet the new TE | Meet George Kittle (Chung)

Roster To Shuffle (Branch)

Who will make the team | Undrafted Rookies (Barrows)