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2017 NFL Draft: ESPN’s Todd McShay Says Quarterback is 49ers’ Biggest Need

By Peter Panacy

Sep 19, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; ABC television broadcaster Todd McShay interviews Stanford Cardinal coach David Shaw after the game against the Southern California Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Stanford defeated USC 41-31. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; ABC television broadcaster Todd McShay interviews Stanford Cardinal coach David Shaw after the game against the Southern California Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Stanford defeated USC 41-31. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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ESPN analyst Todd McShay just posted the top needs for each team in the upcoming 2017 NFL Draft. For the San Francisco 49ers, McShay’s No. 1 priority is a quarterback.

The San Francisco 49ers will eventually need a long-term answer at quarterback, and the 2017 NFL Draft could provide some answers here.

According to ESPN’s Todd McShay, quarterback is San Francisco’s top priority heading into the draft.

McShay recently released the top-five needs for all 32 teams leading into April 27 — the start of this year’s draft.

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In addition to quarterback being No. 1, McShay also listed cornerback, inside linebacker, outside linebacker and running back. Here’s what he had to say about the Niners’ draft preview:

"The 49ers brought in QBs Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley this offseason, but it’s clear that neither is the long-term answer. The question is, will coach Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch spend draft capital on a potential upgrade, or will they take the long view and make a run at Kirk Cousins in free agency next offseason? (Cousins and Shanahan have a connection from their time together in Washington.)The team released CB Tramaine Brock after he was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence. That doesn’t leave the 49ers many established options at cornerback if Jimmie Ward makes the switch to safety, as expected. OLB Ahmad Brooks has been a consistent player for San Francisco, missing just six starts in his past six seasons. But he’s 33 and entering the final year of his deal."

True, neither Brian Hoyer nor Matt Barkley are the franchise-type QBs teams seek. They’re stopgap options at best.

The only problem is none of the quarterbacks in this year’s draft class are true day-one starters. North Carolina’s Mitchell Trubisky, widely viewed as the No. 1 option at this position, has only one year of starting experience at the collegiate level.

Most of the rest will require some serious grooming.

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The focus, and major question, will be whether or not general manager John Lynch will want to use an early draft pick on a quarterback, especially with so many other pressing needs. It’s a lofty investment, especially considering the Niners could make a serious run at Washington Redskins QB Kirk Cousins this upcoming offseason, as McShay suggested.

Additionally, the 2018 NFL Draft is supposed to be vastly better at quarterback. So maybe the 49ers push this need off a bit longer.

Next: 5 Bad Things the 49ers Could Do in the NFL Draft

With the second overall pick in this year’s draft, it doesn’t seem likely Lynch reaches for a QB. The odds increase with subsequent rounds though, so let’s see how Lynch and Co. look to fill this void.