49ers news: Oddsmakers say Mac Jones is Niners’ top draft pick

While the 49ers fanbase doesn’t appear sold on Alabama QB Mac Jones in the NFL Draft, oddsmakers are suggesting otherwise.

It doesn’t take much to reason the San Francisco 49ers weren’t intending to move up from No. 12 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft to No. 3 overall to grab Alabama quarterback Mac Jones — a Round 1 prospect, yes, but someone who would have likely been available at the 12th overall selection anyway.

Nevertheless, there’s no shortage of buzz surrounding Jones as being the Niners’ top choice on April 29.

NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco said Jones would be a favorite over other top quarterbacking prospects potentially available to San Francisco, such as Ohio State’s Justin Fields and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance. Even ESPN’s Todd McShay had Jones going to the 49ers at No. 3 overall in his latest mock draft.

And it appears as if the oddsmakers are siding with what both Maiocco and McShay said, too.

Mac Jones is the 49ers’ odds favorite to be selected at No. 3 overall

According to information compiled from DraftKings, The Action Report compiled a list of favorites to be selected by the Niners with their first pick in this year’s draft.

The No. 1 favorite? Jones at plus-140:

1. Mac Jones: plus-140
2. Justin Fields: plus-160
3. Trey Lance: plus-175
4. Zach Wilson: plus-1200
5. Ja’Marr Chase: plus-5000

What’s somewhat refreshing is the odds are going to shift noticeably back and forth between now and the draft on April 29, and there isn’t too big a difference between Jones, Fields and Lance anyway. So, for those hoping Jones isn’t going to be the pick, it’s not like the Alabama quarterback is a massive runaway in the odds department.

If Jones is San Francisco’s pick at No. 3 overall, though, it would be a massive reach. Nearly every big board and pre-49ers blockbuster-trade mock draft out there had Jones going no earlier than the teens with some viewing him as a late Round 1 pick at best. While quarterback stock values tend to rise leading up to the draft itself, it’s hard to envision any other team looking at him anywhere near the top five. Fields and Lance, yes, but not Jones.

So, if the Niners were absolutely set on Jones, a trade up between Nos. 6 and 10 would have been much more economical and smart rather than the bold move to get the third selection.

Of course, San Francisco could put to rest that entire argument by simply selecting someone other than Jones at No. 3 overall.