2021 NFL Draft: One quarterback SF 49ers can scout in each round

SF 49ers Target for Round 3: Jamie Newman, Georgia

Kyle Shanahan and the SF 49ers have traditionally shied away from mobile quarterbacks who have the tendency to pick up extra yards on the ground, either by designed runs or when plays break down.

But with the NFL trending towards this breed of signal-callers, 2021 might be the time where Shanahan changes his modus operandi a bit and explores what it would be like to have a quarterback of this ilk.

Georgia’s Jamie Newman, a 2020 transfer from Wake Forest, didn’t play a game with the Bulldogs last season after electing to sit out in light of the global pandemic. As such, his game time, stats and efforts from 2018 and 2019 will be vital in determining his value and trajectory.

Newman’s 6-foot-4, 230-pound frame suggests he can withstand the rigors of the added rushing use, and he was never afraid at using this to his advantage. In 2019, he rushed for 574 yards and six touchdowns, often taking advantage of situations where the passing options weren’t there.

That said, Newman’s pure accuracy isn’t strong, and he’ll likely have to rely solely on those short- and intermediate-area throws to have success at the NFL level.

Fortunately, that’s been the bulk of San Francisco’s passing offense the last two years, and Newman can certainly fit into that mold.

He will have to impress at the NFL Scouting Combine. But if the SF 49ers want something of a project with a decent shot at becoming a solid starter, Newman would be worth a look if the Niners wind up getting a third-round selection between now and draft day.