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2016 NFL Draft: 5 Players the San Francisco 49ers Must Target

By Peter Panacy

Aug 30, 2014; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman Ronnie Stanley (78) waits between plays during the game agains the Rice Owls at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 48-17. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 30, 2014; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman Ronnie Stanley (78) waits between plays during the game agains the Rice Owls at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 48-17. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 27, 2015; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. (3) throws the ball in the second quarter against the Oregon State Beavers at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2015; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. (3) throws the ball in the second quarter against the Oregon State Beavers at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports /

Quarterback Vernon Adams, Oregon

5’11”, 195 pounds

Collegiate Statistics

The 49ers may be looking to give incumbent quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert one more year in San Francisco. Especially with head coach Chip Kelly at the helm.

While this may deter the 49ers from taking a Round 1 shot at a quarterback like Jared Goff or Carson Wentz, it doesn’t mean the Niners should avoid looking at a signal-caller at all during the draft.

Former Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams is about as enticing a prospect out there at this position. After a strong performance in the East West Shrine Game, Adams may be best suited as a late-round possibility for a team needing some competition here.

CBS Sports projects Adams as a seventh-round pick or even an undrafted free agent. That ranking will assuredly climb in advance of the draft.

Questions still surround whether or not the 5’11”, 195-pound Adams will have the physical makeup to succeed at the NFL level. But Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson did so and, to be honest, Adams possesses a lot of the same pocket traits as does the Niners’ rival QB from the division.

And it’s impossible to overlook Adams and Kelly’s connection from the University of Oregon. Adams never played under Kelly, but the offenses have plenty of similarities.

Next: DE Emmanuel Ogbah