49ers NFL Draft: 5 prospects by position to target with No. 12 pick

49ers NFL Draft Target No. 1: Quarterback Zach Wilson, BYU

During the regular season, the Niners had an inside track to land BYU quarterback Zach Wilson if they wanted to. But that was before San Francisco eventually finished with the No. 12 overall pick, while Wilson paralleled that development with a rocket-like ascent up the big board all the way to potentially being the No. 2 player selected behind Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

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And some might be inclined to argue Wilson is the better “pure” quarterback anyway. Seriously, he has that kind of talent.

Granted, so much of what happens with the 49ers’ quarterbacking situation hinges on their thoughts on their current starter, Jimmy Garoppolo, and his immediate future. Garoppolo’s injury history doesn’t help. But merely casting him aside with the hope of finding someone better in the NFL Draft — almost always a tricky proposition — is both risky and irresponsible, particularly if there’s no other contingency plan in place.

All that said, it would be nearly impossible for Kyle Shanahan and the Niners to pass up on the idea of adding Wilson if he was somehow made available. It would likely have to take the prospect “draft fall of falls” like what Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers went through way back in 2005 after being a favorite for the No. 1 overall pick that year.

Or it would take San Francisco trading up from No. 12, which remains a very real possibility, too.

Either way, judging what Shanahan would want in a quarterback, it’s hard to put anyone else atop the positional big board outside of Wilson.