Niner Noise
FanSided

How the 49ers are affected by the 2018 quarterback landscape post free agency

By Peter Panacy

LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 15: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins looks to pass in the first quarter of a game against the San Francisco 49ers at FedEx Field on October 15, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 15: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins looks to pass in the first quarter of a game against the San Francisco 49ers at FedEx Field on October 15, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell annonces DeForest Buckner of Oregon as the #7 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell annonces DeForest Buckner of Oregon as the #7 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

Quick-Take 2018 Mock NFL Draft, Pick Nos. 1-10

OK, now that we’ve established how the quarterbacking market has shifted in the waning hours before free agency officially begins, let’s have some fun with a top-10 mock NFL Draft.

You know, to determine which quarterbacks come off the board first and how that affects the 49ers’ plans.

More from Niner Noise

Here we go…

  1. Cleveland Browns — RB Saquon Barkley, Penn State
  2. New York Giants — QB Sam Darnold, USC
  3. Indianapolis Colts — EDGE Bradley Chubb, NC State
  4. Cleveland Browns (via Houston Texans) — QB Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
  5. Denver Broncos — OG Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame
  6. New York Jets — QB Josh Rosen, UCLA
  7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
  8. Chicago Bears — DB Denzel Ward, Ohio State
  9. Buffalo Bills (via 49ers in a mock trade)  — QB Josh Allen, Wyoming
  10. Oakland Raiders — LB Roquan Smith, Georgia

Wait, no 49ers?

The Niners have landed two of their top needs in free agency, cornerback Richard Sherman and offensive lineman Weston Richburg — the latter announced Tuesday. San Francisco’s remaining top need is a pure pass-rusher.

Moving down to No. 12 would help stockpile picks for general manager John Lynch, and the second-best pass-rusher in this year’s draft class is Boston College’s Harold Landry. Meanwhile, the Bills can rest assured a quarterback like Josh Allen doesn’t fall to the possibly QB-looking Miami Dolphins picking at No. 11.

Who knows how that goes, but at least the existing quarterback market provides the 49ers with additional NFL Draft flexibility.

Next: 2018 NFL free agency player tracker

And that’s a very good thing for San Francisco to have.