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5 Prospects the 49ers Should Watch at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine

By Jerod Brown

Feb 24, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 28, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) makes a pass during the first quarter of the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi won 38-27. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) makes a pass during the first quarter of the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi won 38-27. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

Dak Prescott-Quarterback-Mississippi State University

The 49ers will be looking for a quarterback. General manager Trent Baalke fielded questions Wednesday morning at the Scouting Combine and suggested that Kaepernick will remain with the team beyond the April 1st deadline when his contract becomes guaranteed for the year.

Regardless of whether the team is impressed with current quarterbacks on the roster, they’ll surely sign another in free agency or the draft. In all likelihood, the 2016 NFL Draft will be the answer.

There has been plenty of discussion about whether quarterbacks Jared Goff, Carson Wentz and Paxton Lynch are worthy of the seventh-overall pick in April. The 49ers may decide that, although the top-3 guys show tremendous promise, the value of drafting a quarterback later might be higher.

In that case, they’ll be looking at some of the mid-round guys standing out in Indianapolis this week. They should keep their eyes on Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott.

Prescott had a highly-productive season in 2014 and was considered one of the most exciting players in college football. 2015, however, went slightly different for Prescott and the Bulldogs. Now, as Prescott prepares for the NFL, he’ll have to earn his way back into the conversation among quarterbacks.

Fortunately, he has a great chance to do that this week at Indianapolis. In fact, he may have already begun to do so.

That comparison always makes 49er fans a little uncomfortable. Yea, the Seattle Seahawks are far and away better than the 49ers right now, but Wilson is the poster boy for the 49ers main rival. The thought of bringing in a prospect in his mold might feel blasphemous.

Except that the 49ers need to find a way to contend in the NFC West division again. If Prescott is the quarterback to help in that cause, then go get him.

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com published a scouting report on Prescott recently and noted the amount of hits Prescott took behind a shaky offensive line. He might already be ready to play in Santa Clara!

The 49ers will be one of many teams watching to see which group of quarterbacks Prescott performs himself into. Will he insert his name in the 2nd-3rd round discussion, or will he slow the momentum and find himself going later?

Next: Missing Patrick Willis