Niner Noise
FanSided

2016 NFL Draft: 10 Players the San Francisco 49ers Should Target

By Peter Panacy

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Nov 22, 2014; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears quarterback Jared Goff (16) signals to sidelines during the second quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2014; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears quarterback Jared Goff (16) signals to sidelines during the second quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports /

Quarterback Jared Goff, Cal

Statistics

Even if general manager Trent Baalke recently insisted at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine quarterback Colin Kaepernick would be on the team’s roster come April 1, the 49ers may easily be looking at a new franchise signal-caller to change the direction of the franchise. And the pick would be Cal quarterback Jared Goff.

Note: Kaepernick requested a trade from the 49ers, per Rand Getlin of NFL Network.

And it’s what Dane Brugler and Rob Rang of CBS Sports currently mock the Niners to do.

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 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.

— Dane Brugler & Rob Rang, CBS Sports (2/16/16)

Why He Fits:

Kaepernick may have one final shot with head coach Chip Kelly and the 49ers in 2016, but there’s no guarantee the quarterback will revert back to his 2012 form. And how much faith should one put into his backup Blaine Gabbert?

Selecting Goff with their first-overall pick would be an indication of the 49ers organization ushering in a paradigm shift and new era from what was seen not long ago.

And with so much turmoil surrounding the franchise over the last year-plus, making such a move would come at the perfect time.

Next: OT Ronnie Stanley