Why 49ers should acquire a quarterback in 2018 NFL Draft
The 2018 NFL Draft is coming up and the San Francisco 49ers still have plenty of preparation to do before they are on the clock. Despite not being a dire need, the Niners should consider drafting a quarterback at some point and here’s why.
The San Francisco 49ers will look to fill in the remaining holes of their roster come the 2018 NFL Draft on April 26. Specifically, general manager John Lynch and the front office would need to address their needs at EDGE, offensive guard and linebacker.
San Francisco owns nine total selections in this year’s draft, including the ninth overall pick. Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan will likely prioritize the aforementioned positional needs during the draft’s first few rounds.
With that said, what could the Niners use their late-round selections for?
San Francisco 49ers
Adding more depth to the linebacker corps makes sense especially with the uncertainty behind Reuben Foster‘s off-field situation. Drafting a cornerback is also a valid option, as Richard Sherman is still recovering from a devastating Achilles injury.
Despite having Jimmy Garoppolo in place as the starter, the 49ers should consider drafting a quarterback in the later rounds.
Acquiring another quarterback can benefit San Francisco in several ways, particularly once organized team activities start this summer.
Competition
Unless the 49ers magically find a quarterback who is on the same level as Garoppolo, the starting role is secured.
As Shanahan once told NBC Sports Bay Area reporter Matt Maiocco:
Kyle Shanahan said about the only positions the #49ers are not looking for starters this offseason are at quarterback and fullback.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) March 1, 2018
Thus, one of the main reasons for drafting a QB this year is to add competition to back up Garoppolo. C.J. Beathard and Nick Mullens are currently the two other quarterbacks on San Francisco’s roster.
While Beathard is capable, as proven by his decent rookie season in 2017, the 49ers should still find a player who can compete with the former Iowa Hawkeye.
Bringing more competition for the backup role should also motivate Beathard even further. With 2018 being his second season, he would certainly work hard to keep his current spot with the team.
Meanwhile, Mullens only provides little competition to be the second-string QB having spent the last season on the practice squad.
Therefore, looking for another quarterback to contend as a backup is viable in this year’s draft.
While it would not necessarily occur in the earlier rounds, finding a QB later in the draft would give Shanahan more flexibility in determining who should sit behind Garoppolo.
Depth
If Shanahan desires to have three active quarterbacks on the roster, drafting a QB would add positional depth.
Acquiring one would makes sense if Lynch and Shanahan see a potential fit to their system as well.
A quarterback selection can also be an insurance policy for the 49ers. In case any injuries transpire before or during the 2018 regular season, Shanahan could easily plug in the rookie QB.
The quarterback prospects who have met with San Francisco before the draft include Richmond’s Kyle Lauletta and Princeton’s Chad Kanoff.
In addition, the Niners invited Dixie State’s Malik Watson to their local pro day in Santa Clara on April 18, according to NFL Draft Diamonds.
Even though the 49ers will not necessarily draft any of these players, the meetings at least indicate that the team is somewhat interested in a quarterback.
Trade Value
While Beathard’s 2017 outing was less than mediocre, it could still lead other NFL teams to show interest. Especially because he was only a rookie last season, Beathard still has plenty of room to grow.
Pro Football Focus gave Beathard an overall grade of 68.5 for his rookie performance, which ranked No. 34 overall among NFL quarterbacks.
Considering it was only Beathard’s first year in the league, this grade is not too shabby. If he continues to develop well, Beathard could become even more serviceable in the future.
Other NFL teams may then show interest in trading for Beathard, particularly those desperate for a quarterback. The 49ers could end up sending him elsewhere if the price is right and if they find a solid replacement in this year’s draft.
Beathard’s trade value could range from a fifth-round draft pick to even a second-round selection.
By any means, this article does not necessarily promote a Beathard trade as he is a reliable backup quarterback.
However, if the Niners do acquire another young quarterback with more upside during the upcoming draft, the trade could be in high consideration.
Next: 2018 NFL Draft: 4 Draft Scenarios for the 49ers
While Garoppolo and his starting role are safe, the 49ers should definitely seek better flexibility for the backup spot. Who knows? Maybe, San Francisco can have another duo similar to Joe Montana and Steve Young with finding the right quarterback during the draft.