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Adam Schefter reported that the San Francisco 49ers have traded up to No. 3 in this year’s NFL draft with the Miami Dolphins. The Niners are giving up No. 12, a ‘22 third-rounder, and first-round picks in 2022 and 2023.
Um, wow!
Kyle Shanahan likely feels confident in three quarterbacks in this draft. That was my initial reaction. Also, that is a lot to give up for any player. BYU’s Zach Wilson has a pro day on Friday, and John Lynch and some of the 49ers brass are reportedly in Provo to watch Wilson. Schefter reported that the Jets are the favorites to land Wilson.
That would mean the Niners are high on Justin Fields, Trey Lance, or Mac Jones. The former is the safest assumption given the circumstances, but don’t rule out Lance. San Francisco has supposedly been high on Lance the entire draft process, and he is a star in the making.
Now @MoveTheSticks is mentioning that Mac Jones shouldn't be ruled out as a potential fit for SF at #3.
— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) March 26, 2021
Trading up for Jones would be comical.
This all but closes the door on the Jimmy Garoppolo era in San Francisco.
Internally there was a lot of sentiment Jimmy G cost the Niners that Super Bowl.
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) March 26, 2021
Now set to move on.
I’m curious where Garoppolo lands and what the compensation is for him. Would the Niners release Jimmy? Do the Patriots now only send a Day 3 pick for Garoppolo since San Francisco doesn’t have any leverage?
Not so fast, as Ian Rapoport reported that the 49ers still plan to keep Jimmy G:
The #49ers plan to keep Jimmy G, believing they have a playoff-ready roster and he’s the one for it. We’ll see if teams can change their mind. https://t.co/SL5Skr0euA
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 26, 2021
Do you really trade all of that future capital for a rookie quarterback to sit on the bench? We’ll get to answer all of these questions as Shanahan and Lynch speak to the media this coming Monday.