2016 NFL Draft: Assessing San Francisco 49ers’ Best Round 1 Options
By Peter Panacy
Quarterback Jared Goff, Cal
Perhaps the biggest question the Niners will face this offseason is what to do about their quarterback situation.
Will the 49ers roll with last year’s second-half starter Blaine Gabbert? Do they try and reinvigorate embattled quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s career? Or will San Francisco look to start over and target a quarterback like Cal’s Jared Goff with its first pick?
Speculation dominates here, but Goff has recently been mocked to the 49ers both by CBS Sports and NFL.com.
Goff, a Bay Area native, would likely become an immediate fan favorite. And with Gabbert signed through 2016, the 49ers wouldn’t be pressed to throw the Cal prospect into the storm right off the bat. They could give him a year to mature and develop.
The 6’4″, 215-pound signal-caller put up a Pac-12 best 4,714 passing yards last season and is right in line with the best QBs available in the draft this year, albeit a relatively weak class.
STRENGTHS: There is no denying that Goff’s production is inflated due to coach Sonny Dykes’ up-tempo spread offense, which provides the quarterback the ball out of shotgun and quick passes to the perimeter. That said, Goff shows many of the traits scouts are looking for in a pro-style quarterback, including impressive accuracy on in-cutting routes in the short, intermediate and deep levels, the courage to stand in the pocket and enough functional mobility to buy time.
Goff has a snappy over-the-top release and isn’t afraid to zip the ball through tight windows, typically leading his receivers away from danger. He possesses enough arm strength to complete deep outs to the opposite sideline and shows good touch down the seam. The composure and toughness he has shown while being beaten up behind an overmatched offensive line also won’t go unnoticed by scouts.
Goff can be downright surgical in his ability to pick apart defenses, showing deft touch on deep balls down the sideline and up the middle.
WEAKNESSES: While Goff boasts plenty of admirable traits, he does come with some concerns. He hasn’t missed a game due to injury at Cal but possesses a relatively spindly frame with long, lean limbs. Tiring of picking himself off the ground has led to Goff developing a bad habit of happy feet in the pocket and though he has shown admirable courage in taking hits to deliver passes, he too often throws without his feet set, sapping velocity and accuracy.
Goff is a good athlete for the position but isn’t a true scrambling threat and his accuracy drops when attempting to throw on the run. Dykes’ offense rarely calls for traditional deep balls down the sideline, although Gray has shown improvement in his downfield touch throughout the 2015 season.
— Dane Brugler and Rob Rang, CBS Sports
Why He Fits:
Goff’s accuracy in short and intermediate throws fits well with what head coach Chip Kelly wants for a system quarterback. These are attributes Kaepernick does not have. And Goff made strides this past season against pressure, which is something for which Gabbert isn’t known either.
The ability to pick apart a defense, as Brugler and Rang note, will be a huge boost to what was seen from Kaepernick in recent seasons.
And taking Goff would be a true sign the 49ers are attempting to install the next era of the franchise beyond 2015.
Why He Doesn’t:
Goff’s lanky frame could be a cause for worry with regards to injury. And the lack of deep-threat passes would stand in contrast to what the 49ers have on offense with wide receiver Torrey Smith.
The quarterback’s accuracy woes when under pressure may also be worrisome given the Niners’ issues along the offensive line. Barring any drastic upgrades this offseason, Goff could feel the heat from opposing defenses for some time similar to how the 49ers’ last first-round quarterback, Alex Smith, experienced the same when he was drafted.
Next: Best Round 1 Options for the 49ers in 2016 NFL Draft
All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated. Supplementary draft information courtesy of CBS Sports.