49ers: San Francisco’s 2017 Offseason Big Board, version 2.0
By Eric Gamboa
Quarterback
Ah, how the tide always seems to turn for QBs the closer we get to the draft. Nevertheless, I want to go on record now — former Clemson QB Deshaun Watson will be the first QB taken in the draft.
More importantly, he should be the No. 1 target on the 49ers offseason big board.
Let me also break down one seriously bad myth — wait to draft a QB next year.
Mythbuster – Draft a first round QB next season
First, let’s assume that the 49ers are in on this plan. Which they are not, but let’s assume they are. Let’s also assume they love a QB who may declare in 2018 like USC QB Sam Darnold, Louisville’s Lamar Jackson or Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield so much that they would like to wait.
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However, a lot can change in a year. Darnold’s impressive rookie season could be followed by a flop sophomore season much like Christian Hackenberg experienced from year one to year two as the QB of Penn State.
Scouts could sour on Lamar Jackson’s running ability and how NFL defenses will kill his ability to run. Anyone of those top prospects may end up getting seriously hurt or may end up playing awful.
Even worse, the 49ers may end up in a position where they cannot pick the QB they want. Other teams could trade ahead of them or already be in front of their draft position.
Even then, the top rated guy can come into league and be a total bust. While the guy you skipped on last year comes in and shines. Just ask Hue Jackson when he skipped on Carson Wentz.
This is why the best strategy is to select the best QB this year and next season until you find THE franchise QB.
Waiting for a “top” QB next year is simply too risky a proposition. One, that can end up biting you in the rear. Especially if you end up passing on quote “Michael Jordan” but more on that later.
The Bridge QB – Brian Hoyer
Some of you may be confused that QB ranks as the No. 1 49ers offseason priority seeing that the signing of Brian Hoyer gives the 49ers “time”. And, while that is true, it is more of a contingency plan in case their QB target is selected by the Cleveland Browns.
Remember, the Cleveland Browns will determine what the 49ers will do because they hold the coveted No. 1 pick. Well, coveted might be the wrong descriptor but you get what we mean there. Also, because the Browns chose that route of “waiting till next year” and they are now in a conundrum themselves — take a QB or best player available.
The QB I believe the 49ers are eyeing is Deshaun Watson. Watson has experienced a love/hate dynamic throughout the 2016 college football season. Which is downright disrespectful in my opinion. Even after he led his team to a come-from-behind win against the Alabama Crimson Tide to take home the coveted College Football National Championship, scouts and fans still hold his dual-threat skill set and spread offense origins against him.
A knock which is misinformed and antiquated.
For those not paying attention, the NFL is already operating primarily out of the shotgun the majority of the time and implementing spread concepts.
Dabo Swinney
Which brings us to Watson’s lively Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney who said this about Watson, per USA Today:
"If they pass on Deshaun Watson, they’re passing on Michael Jordan."
Talk about putting pressure on a young man. But, then to double up on those comments issued the following statement after Clemson’s pro day, as reported by Sporting News:
"It’s what’s inside of him, it’s what’s in between his ears, it’s type of young man he is. He’s chemistry, Day 1. He’s leadership, Day 1. He changes the locker room, Day 1. He impacts free agency, Day 1. He makes everybody better, Day 1. I don’t know how to articulate the greatness that’s inside of him. To me, that’s what Michael Jordan represents, because that’s what I grew up with. I’m sure when Michael Jordan was coming out of North Carolina, his 3-pointer wasn’t very good and he had some flaws when you started poking holes on him. But it was who he was, it’s that will, that drive — you can’t coach that. That’s what I want to make sure I articulate. (Watson is) always the same with his character and integrity, and he’s at his best in the biggest moment."
Watson certainly has flaws. The college game is certainly dominated by spread offenses that do not teach some of the finer details that the NFL game demands. Elements that will need to be mastered to operate head coach Kyle Shanahan’s west coast system.
This is the other reason why you sign a Brian Hoyer. You sit Watson and let him learn. Next, season draft another QB. Let them compete. The late, great Bill Walsh had the best QB draft philosophy, in that the QB position is so important he believed NFL teams should draft a QB every year. In fact, Walsh’ strategy was suggested by Mark Purdy of the Mercury News, back in 2014, as a strategy that the 49ers should employ.
By the way, the other highly-touted college QB draft prospect, Mitch Trubisky, well Walsh had a draft philosophy for to cover that as well, per NFL.com:
"Never take the one-year wonder and look forward; take the one-year wonder and look back."
Meaning, never trust one year’s worth of production and project it forward. Instead, take that one year’s worth of production and wonder “why isn’t there more of it?”
So, with that, let’s update our 2017 big board:
- Draft Clemson, QB, Deshaun Watson with No. 2 overall pick.
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34th overall pick traded to New England for QB Jimmy Garoppolo (if Watson is gone) Sign Tyrod Taylor four years for $43 million (if options No. 1 & 2 are gone)- Sign Brian Hoyer two years for $14 million (completed)