2016 NFL Scouting Combine: Post-Combine Risers & Fallers

Jared Goff-Quarterback-Cal

49ers fans can pick plenty of reasons for why the team shouldn’t pass on Goff if he is available when they pick in the first round. The paltry excuse for an offense in 2015, Goff’s jersey tribute to former-49er Joe Montana and the team’s pass on Green Bay Packer Aaron Rodgers all serve as reminders and justifications for the 49ers choosing Goff.

The best justification of all is the fact that Goff is clearly the best quarterback in this class. The 2016 NFL Scouting Combine only solidified that fact. It’s hard to call Goff a riser when he’s been considered one of the best quarterbacks in this draft class all season.

But with Kaepernick’s request and Goff’s performance on the field, it’s safe to say he is moving up the 49ers board of needs. And quickly.

Throughout all of the passing drills, Goff routinely demonstrated impressive fluidity, control and arm talent. Compared to other quarterbacks, Goff’s footwork is far-and-away the best of any prospect.

The beauty of the Scouting Combine is that teams and evaluators are able to see all of the prospects in the same environment and can judge them amongst one another accordingly.

After debates about who is the best quarterback in the debate, Goff made it clear that, if a team needs a starter immediately, he’s the only one that is realistically ready. In addition to impressing on the field, Goff has taken action to erase some of the concerns about his size and durability in the NFL.

Teams will always find issues with prospects. Sometimes it’s an attempt to downplay their enthusiasm and sometimes there are legitimate concerns. At least in the case of Goff, we can all quickly get over the hand-size worries.

Goff interviewed with many teams at the Scouting Combine, including the 49ers, and will be busy in the months leading up to the draft. Teams picking within the top-10 will likely all schedule interviews to get Goff in the building and evaluate him with their own coaching.

As the 49ers and other teams begin posturing and bluffing to play the draft game, Goff will have his name thrown around to many teams. Pair that with the fact that both the Tennessee Titans and San Diego Chargers have expressed interest in trading out of their first picks–1st overall and 3rd overall, respectively–and it’s reasonable to believe that Goff could be mocked to plenty of teams before April.

If Goff is rising quickly on the 49ers board, it’s safe to say he is rising elsewhere. He did exactly what he needed to do at the Scouting Combine.

Next: Why 49ers Should Avoid Paxton Lynch

The 49ers spent their time in Indianapolis scouting all possible prospects but the report that quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s representatives have requested permission to seek a trade stole the show before the quarterbacks had even thrown a single pass.

The evaluation process immediately became significantly more important. The 49ers can’t enter the 2016 season with a new head coach and a quarterback that is unhappy and distrustful of the front office. For both the team and Kaepernick, it is best to part ways.

That means that the 49ers will need to find a starting quarterback sometime in the 2016 NFL Draft. The best ones will be available in the top-10 picks but there is value throughout the draft if the team should decide to let Blaine Gabbert start in 2016.

Teams needed to see the players compete on all levels and, for the most part, they did. The competition lead to a clear division between the tiers of quarterbacks. Some saw a rise, some saw a fall. But the 49ers certainly saw them all.

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN Statistics unless otherwise indicated.