49ers 2021 NFL Draft big board: Best-fit prospects for all 7 rounds
49ers Round 1 prospects
Team needs
Look, we know it’s going to be a quarterback. Teams do not throw a whole bunch of picks to move this far up into the draft if it isn’t a quarterback. General manager John Lynch even said it’d be a quarterback.
The question is, which quarterback?
Zach Wilson, Quarterback, BYU
Of all the non-Trevor Lawrence quarterback prospects out there, the one who perhaps would fit the 49ers the most would be Zach Wilson.
Wilson is a good fit with the Niners offense. He has the arm talent to hit anywhere on the field, is smart with the ball, can use his legs to make plays and does have a swagger you want with your quarterbacks. One of the biggest knocks on Jimmy Garoppolo is the mental side of his game, and Wilson is a vast upgrade in this area.
The big question is: Do the New York Jets like Wilson, too? Or do they want to build around quarterback Sam Darnold?
Justin Fields, Quarterback, Ohio State
People seem to be against Justin Fields because he comes from an Ohio State program that isn’t exactly a hotbed for good quarterbacks in the NFL.
While that’s true, it’s also irrelevant. It’s more important to look at the player right now, not at the past.
Fields is a dynamic dual-threat who can both sling the ball with venom and accuracy as well as run it. Adding a new dimension to head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense is so scary to fathom.
Trey Lance, Quarterback, North Dakota State
Based on the physical attributes, Trey Lance definitely has pro potential. If a team can afford to be patient and coach him up like Patrick Mahomes was at Kansas City, then it could have a real talent on its hands.
I don’t put Lance very close to Wilson or Fields, however. The reason for this being Lance was a one-hit wonder at North Dakota State, who had a mixed outing in his one game for 2020 after flashing like crazy the season before.
Still, he’s a definite candidate for the 49ers if they feel they can bring out the talent.
Kyle Pitts, Tight End, Florida
It’s going to be a quarterback almost definitely, but I should still briefly talk about two prospects who have limitless potential and could be picked here just in the event this is a giant smokescreen.
Kyle Pitts with George Kittle? That’d be an amazing dream combination to give the elite two tight ends Shanahan has craved. With the versatility to line up as a receiver as well, Pitts may be the best tight end prospect we’ve seen in a very long time.
Penei Sewell, Offensive Tackle, Oregon
When you’re being compared to Jonathan Ogden, then you’re doing something very right, indeed. Sewell has been an absolute rock at Oregon and has every gift possible to be the next great blindside tackle.
The 49ers could theoretically pick Sewell if this was a giant smokescreen, put him at right tackle and move Mike McGlinchey to guard while eventually putting him on the blindside to replace Trent Williams.
Again, you wouldn’t move multiple first-round picks for the ability to do this. But Sewell is probably the closest thing to a Hall of Fame-caliber talent in this draft.