Niner Noise
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Predicting What the San Francisco 49ers Starting Lineup Looks Like in 2018

By Peter Panacy

Dec 4, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) carries the ball against the Chicago Bears during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) carries the ball against the Chicago Bears during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 10, 2016; Tempe, AZ, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Patrick Mahomes II (5) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2016; Tempe, AZ, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Patrick Mahomes II (5) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Quarterback

NFL Draft pick

OK, 49ers fans. What do the 49ers do under center?

Well, it’s almost impossible to envision San Francisco bringing back Colin Kaepernick this season. Even if they do, for whatever reason, he won’t be the guy in 2018. That job will fall on someone else.

In all likelihood, the Niners use a veteran QB to bridge the gap between now and the start of 2018. Meanwhile, general manager John Lynch targets a rookie signal-caller in the NFL Draft, stashing him away as a to-be-groomed player for 2017.

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Sure, San Francisco could engineer some sort of trade this offseason or go the free-agent route. Perhaps guys like New England Patriots backup Jimmy Garoppolo is on the radar or even Washington Redskins QB Kirk Cousins.

Either one of those moves would be awfully lucrative though, and the draft-and-develop method surely is the preferred way to go.

Nonetheless, the next era of 49ers quarterbacking will have an entirely different name than the ones seen in recent seasons.

Next: 2017 NFL Draft Preview: Full 7-Round Mock for the 49ers

And if this unknown player works out, it’s all for the better.