49ers. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The San Francisco 49ers represent the biggest pivot point in the 2021 NFL Draft after their trade with the Miami Dolphins that sent shockwaves around the league.
Now picking third overall in the first round after sending the 12th pick and two future firsts to Miami, the Niners are poised to land their quarterback of the future.
General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan are under significant pressure to ensure they nail the pick that will determine the direction of the franchise for the next decade.
With Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson expected to come off the board with picks one and two, it is a three-horse race between Justin Fields, Trey Lance and Mac Jones to become Jimmy Garoppolo’s successor.
Who is Garoppolo’s heir apparent for 49ers?
The 49ers have been adamant that Garoppolo will remain the quarterback for 2021 but, regardless of whether they stand by their word, the rest of the draft will be about furnishing a deep roster with prospects who can put next season’s signal-caller in a position to contend to go deep into the playoffs.
San Francisco does not have any glaring holes after free agency and can therefore use the rest of the draft to build on its strengths and address any minor weaknesses with their remaining eight picks after round one.
Adding depth at cornerback and edge rusher is likely to be a focus for the Niners, while they may also look to increase their options on the offensive line at wide receiver. All those areas are addressed in this latest mock draft for San Francisco.
