Niner Noise
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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 27, 2016; Mobile, AL, USA; South squad quarterback Brandon Allen of Arkansas (10) throws a pass during Senior Bowl practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 27, 2016; Mobile, AL, USA; South squad quarterback Brandon Allen of Arkansas (10) throws a pass during Senior Bowl practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports /

Potential Third-Stringers

The 49ers have plenty of picks late in the draft, with OvertheCap projecting them to have four compensatory selections in rounds five and six. This is right on the border between players who will make the opening day roster and players who will slide onto a practice squad for a while. These names are guys I would side with making the 53-man roster as a third quarterback.

Brandon Allen, Arkansas

Why do you draft Brandon Allen?  You like his mobility on roll-outs and bootlegs, his accuracy and the speed of his release. He improved significantly entering his senior season, going from 50 percent completion to 56 percent to 66 percent over his three-year career as a starter—that’s very promising to see. He’s got mobility to keep plays alive and put up some big numbers as a starter.

Of course, he benefitted greatly from Arkansas’ rushing attack. Most of his production came out of play-action as defenses loaded up against Alex Collins, and the passing offense was mostly limited to single reads out of misdirection. Give him some work and practice making progressions, however, and there’s something here to develop.

Jeff Driskel, Louisiana Tech

Jeff Driskel was the top-rated quarterback in his recruiting class, and was going to be the next Tim Tebow at Florida. That didn’t happen, as a broken leg and other talented players forced him to miss time and then transfer as a graduate student to Louisiana Tech. He still has all those measurables that made him a top prospect, but he simply hasn’t produced in college.

What are those measurables? Well, he’s active in the pocket able to step up and move around as he waits for people to get open. He can pull the ball down and run with it, with solid open-field speed that opens up the potential of zone-read packages. He has no mechanical issues to speak of. He’s got upside, but you always have to be careful with a player who never really put it all together at the previous level.

Next: Late-Round Prospects