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2016 NFL Draft: 49ers’ Big Board for Quarterbacks

By Bryan Knowles

Dec 29, 2015; Fort Worth, TX, USA; California Golden Bears quarterback Jared Goff (16) celebrates with his teammates after defeating the Air Force Falcons at Amon G. Carter Stadium. California won 55-36. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2015; Fort Worth, TX, USA; California Golden Bears quarterback Jared Goff (16) celebrates with his teammates after defeating the Air Force Falcons at Amon G. Carter Stadium. California won 55-36. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 30, 2016; Mobile, AL, USA; North squad quarterback Carson Wentz of North Dakota State (11) throws while under pressure from South squad defensive end Dadi Nicolas of Virginia Tech during first half of the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2016; Mobile, AL, USA; North squad quarterback Carson Wentz of North Dakota State (11) throws while under pressure from South squad defensive end Dadi Nicolas of Virginia Tech during first half of the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports /

The San Francisco 49ers will add a quarterback on draft day, but which one?

It is a generally agreed-upon fact that the San Francisco 49ers will draft a quarterback at some point on the 2016 draft. Whether or not you believe that Colin Kaepernick, Blaine Gabbert or a free agent will be the quarterback for the future, it’s clear the 49ers need a better developmental project than Dylan Thompson going forward. 

That does leave a bit of wriggle-room on the ultimate strategy, however. Do the 49ers take a quarterback with the seventh-overall pick, declaring them the heir apparent to the starting job? Do they take a quarterback on day two, to hopefully develop into a starter in the future? Do they take a quarterback on the final day of the draft, looking for a long-term project for a likely backup role?

It will partially depend on how the draft flows around them and how free agency goes, of course, but we can at least take a look at how the quarterbacks fall from top to bottom, and where each one is likely to be drafted.

With the scouting combine taking place this week—quarterbacks have media interviews on the 25th and on-field workouts on the 27th—these rankings should still be considered very fluid. We’re still months out from the draft proper, and the off-season interviews and workouts will have a lot to say about the final positioning of all of these players. This is a solid starting point and a snapshot of where we stand now, not necessarily what the reality will be on draft day.

Enough caveats! Let’s get to the quarterbacks, starting with the two names in play with the seventh overall pick.

Next: Potential First-Round Picks