NFL Draft: 4 quarterbacks SF 49ers can consider to replace Jimmy Garoppolo
By Seth Steere
SF 49ers Target No. 1: Zach Wilson, BYU
Even if you haven’t been paying close attention to college football you’ve still probably heard the name Zach Wilson, and for good reason.
Similar to Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow in 2019 with LSU, BYU’s Wilson has been able to climb to ranks from a mid-round player in the summer, to someone who has an opportunity to be drafted in the top five.
Unlike Burrow, he won’t be the first quarterback selected, but his improvement from the previous season is impressive:
| Passing | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | AY/A | TD | Int | Rate |
| *2018 | Brigham Young | Ind | FR | QB | 9 | 120 | 182 | 65.9 | 1578 | 8.7 | 9.2 | 12 | 3 | 157.2 |
| *2019 | Brigham Young | Ind | SO | QB | 9 | 199 | 319 | 62.4 | 2382 | 7.5 | 6.9 | 11 | 9 | 130.8 |
| *2020 | Brigham Young | Ind | JR | QB | 12 | 246 | 335 | 73.4 | 3699 | 11.0 | 12.6 | 33 | 3 | 196.9 |
| Career | Brigham Young | 565 | 836 | 67.6 | 7659 | 9.2 | 9.7 | 56 | 15 | 163.1 |
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference
Generated 1/6/2021.
It wouldn’t be shocking if the SF 49ers elected to trade up in the draft to snag Wilson. San Francisco’s Vice President of Player Personnel, Adam Peters, attended Wilson’s game against Boise State, per multiple reports.
Wilson has earned all the hype and attention he has received this year. He is a very natural thrower of the football, the ball pops out of his hand with little effort. Wilson is able to make plays outside of the pocket with both his arm and his legs as well as stand in the pocket and execute the scheme put in front of him.
At times he can rush through his progression and look to his check down early, but nothing you can’t fix with time.