2018 NFL Draft: 5 scenario predictions for the 49ers in Round 1

No. 5: Fewer Quarterbacks Go Earlier than Expected

There are more than a handful of quarterback-needy teams picking within the top 10 of the NFL Draft this year.

San Francisco 49ers

And a number are slated behind the 49ers at No. 9/10 too.

Without diving too deeply into team needs, the Cleveland Browns (Nos. 1, 4), New York Giants (No. 2), Denver Broncos (No. 5) and New York Jets (No. 6) could all make plays for a QB with their first pick. So could the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Redskins and Arizona Cardinals — all slated after San Francisco — depending on what happens with their situations under center.

But what if a number of the high-profile quarterback prospects fail to impress at the NFL Scouting Combine? What if their collective player stock falls or, more reasonably, a number of the aforementioned QB-hungry teams make their signal-caller additions via free agency?

There are some notable names out there.

San Francisco doesn’t need a quarterback, thanks to the midseason pickup of Jimmy Garoppolo. Yet such a scenario would mean non-quarterback prospects may not fall as deep as initially thought.

So cross off Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson, if he’s not already gone anyway. Same thing likely goes for SMU wide receiver Courtland Sutton.

John Lynch’s Reaction: Grab the highest-ranked player on the 49ers’ big board.