49ers NFL Draft 2022: 4 quarterbacks who can back up Trey Lance

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UCLA Bruins quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

2. player. 836. . . Previous: . Dorian Thompson-Robinson

49ers NFL Draft Target No. 2: Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA

Late-end draft diamonds are likely to be the only quarterbacks the Niners target this year, although it’s surely possible they take a flier on one of those mid-round prospects if they wind up falling.

Cross off the idea of Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder or Georgia’s J.T. Daniels, though, as those middle-of-the-road prospects are likely to see their respective draft stocks increase leading up to Round 1 because of the thin nature of this year’s quarterbacking class.

One player who could rise, too, is UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who has put together a solid four-year stint as a starter and had some modest success in head coach Chip Kelly’s offense (yes, him, San Francisco fans).

Dorian Thompson-Robinson Passing Table
		Passing
Year	School	Conf	Class	Pos	G	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Y/A	AY/A	TD	Int	Rate
2018	UCLA	Pac-12	FR	QB	9	112	194	57.7	1311	6.8	6.6	7	4	122.3
2019	UCLA	Pac-12	SO	QB	11	216	362	59.7	2701	7.5	7.1	21	12	134.9
2020	UCLA	Pac-12	JR	QB	5	90	138	65.2	1120	8.1	8.6	12	4	156.3
2021	UCLA	Pac-12	SR	QB	11	176	284	62.0	2409	8.5	9.0	21	6	153.4
Career	UCLA					594	978	60.7	7541	7.7	7.8	61	26	140.8

Provided by CFB at Sports Reference
Generated 1/6/2022.

Additionally, Thompson-Robinson doubles as a rushing threat (he had 611 rush yards and nine touchdowns on the ground in 2021) and possesses the skills necessary to evade pressure within the pocket and extend plays.

At 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, there’ll be concerns about his size and whatever limitations those bring at the NFL level.

Thompson-Robinson’s arm isn’t in question. If anything, his decision-making process needs a lot of work for him to succeed at the next level, and at best, he’d be a project for at least the first two years of his career.

Still, for a late-round target, say in Round 6 or so, the 49ers could do worse for Trey Lance’s backup.