What will 49ers do with first NFL Draft pick after free agency?

49ers quarterback drama will heat up during NFL Draft

Now that the opening waves of free agency are done, it’s time to speculate what the 49ers will do with their quarterbacking situation despite nearly all the evidence suggesting they’ll stick with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

Including John Lynch essentially saying the same thing over and over again.

Yes, parting ways with Jimmy G saves a lot of cap space. But the Niners aren’t hurting for that right now. Maybe in 2022, but not now. Yes, Garoppolo is injury-prone. Hence Lynch’s focus on finding adequate backups.

San Francisco 49ers

But the NFL Draft opens up a slew of other controversial takes and possibilities. Does San Francisco trade up from No. 12 overall to grab one of the big four names listed below?

• Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
• Zach Wilson, BYU
• Justin Fields, Ohio State
• Trey Lance, North Dakota State

A trade-up is the only way any of the first three names are in play, and Lance is still only a remote possibility to fall.

Another route, pointed out by NBC Sports Bay Area’s Josh Schrock, is to target Alabama quarterback Mac Jones and not even forcing Garoppolo out in the process, at least not in 2021:

"Building around a quarterback on a rookie contract is the best way to construct an Super Bowl-caliber roster. If Shanahan sees a quarterback he likes in Round 1, one he believes is perfect for running his system, the 49ers now should have the freedom to pull the trigger, knowing they won’t be ignoring another clear in the process. They could, in theory, even have the rookie sit for a season behind Garoppolo before turning the offense over to him in 2022 when they are expected to have another cap crunch."

Schrock was in on Jones, too, in the realistic target for a Round 1 quarterback in San Francisco.

The 49ers’ big spend in free agency this offseason could mandate a switch to a quarterback on a rookie contract, so this makes sense.

But those cornerback and edge-rushing needs can be overshadowed either.