49ers rumors: NFL Draft focus now on Trey Lance, Mac Jones

The 49ers have reportedly ruled out Justin Fields and are instead focused on Trey Lance and Mac Jones for their top NFL Draft pick, per reports.

It’s getting dimmer for the crowd thinking and hoping the San Francisco 49ers will select Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

There’s been no shortage of speculation from those around the league thinking the Niners will take Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, not Fields, with the third pick on April 29. Yet on Sunday night, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported San Francisco has narrowed its search down to Jones and North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance.

All but eliminating the possibility Fields will be the pick.

Granted, this could still be a giant smokescreen. General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have been awfully guarded with their true intentions, and recent history of non-leaks from the two over the last few years suggests San Francisco hasn’t revealed its pick to anyone outside of only the closest to Lynch and Shanahan if that.

Still, it’s appearing to be the case Fields has been ruled out as the 49ers’ selection.

Trey Lance receiving a late push to be picked by 49ers

While Jones has been the media’s favorite to be selected by the Niners, Lance also appears to be strongly in consideration.

Rapoport’s report was backed up by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, who reported “San Francisco continues to do homework on North Dakota State’s Trey Lance.”

Pelissero also noted the 49ers spoke with Lance at least once after his second pro day, which was one Shanahan helped engineer with Niners-like offensive plays and designs.

Of the three quarterbacks reportedly on San Francisco’s radar, Lance is the one suspected to need the most amount of development time and would probably benefit from sitting behind the team’s current starter, Jimmy Garoppolo, for the upcoming year.

Whereas Jones is viewed as the most pro-ready of the three, he doesn’t have the athleticism or raw playmaking ability as someone like Lance or Fields.

Although it appears as if the 49ers have now ruled out Fields even though one could make the argument he has a similar skill set as Lance. But with Lance being two years younger, it’s possible the Niners are at least strongly considering the long-term upside of getting someone who can develop at an earlier age within the pro level.

Whatever the truth might be, fans will ultimately know it on April 29.