49ers could (and should) target these quarterbacks in 2023 NFL Draft

On paper, the 49ers don’t need quarterbacks via the 2023 NFL Draft, but they should still very much seek one out with one of their 11 picks.

If you were to peruse through any list of the San Francisco 49ers’ top needs in the 2023 NFL Draft, you probably wouldn’t find a quarterback listed.

That’s because the Niners already have three signal-callers rostered: Brock Purdy, Trey Lance and now Sam Darnold. Even after San Francisco finally said goodbye to Jimmy Garoppolo via free agency, the position has both depth and talent.

But it also has injury concerns entering 2023.

Purdy just underwent surgery on his throwing elbow and likely won’t be ready for the start of the regular season, while Lance suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2 last year and only just got back on the field to throw.

Should Darnold be considered a solid starting option? Perhaps not, even though the 49ers are giving him $3.5 million guaranteed this year.

Purdy’s second-half rise in 2022 in the wake of Lance and Garoppolo suffering season-ending injuries reveals why many teams elect to draft a quarterback every year even if they don’t need one. While most late-round signal-callers ultimately flame out and are forgotten quickly, the occasional gem can show up.

And Purdy is a prime example.

The Niners don’t have draft picks until late in Round 3 but do have 11 total, meaning they should probably consider at least one rookie quarterback to bolster the depth chart.

Here are some names who’d be enticing enough for San Francisco to target on draft day.

49ers quarterback target No. 4: Max Duggan, TCU

TCU’s rise into the College Football Playoff should have given quarterback Max Duggan all the attention and hype he’d need to be at least a mid-range prospect in the NFL Draft.

As it stands, though, he’s looking like a late selection on day three, at best.

Still, the runner-up in the Heisman voting put together a great 2022 campaign and should at least find his name called by a team willing to take a flier on him.

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Generated 4/12/2023.

The 6-foot-1 and 207-pound Duggan has some solid athleticism and a good arm, but he’s not someone who’d be tasked with leading a pro offense against a top-level defense.

Yet that might be why an offense like that of head coach Kyle Shanahan would be perfect for Duggan, as the quarterback would have predetermined reads and wouldn’t need to go through progressions much at all.

And there’d still be room for the athleticism to shine, too.

49ers quarterback target No. 3: Jaren Hall, BYU

BYU quarterback Jaren Hall is a tough evaluation since his draft pedigree will largely hinge on how teams view his skill set.

The 6-foot, 207-pound Hall is slightly undersized for the position and lacks a strong arm to get passes down the field beyond 20 yards with any sort of consistency.

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Generated 4/12/2023.

That said, he is accurate within 20 yards from the line of scrimmage and has both the poise and command to suggest he can be an effective signal-caller in a quarterback-friendly offense.

In many ways, Hall is like Brock Purdy but with better rushing attributes. The former racked up over 650 yards and six touchdowns on the ground over the last two years with the Cougars.

Also a day-three target, someone like Hall could easily be insurance for Purdy or even Trey Lance, depending on how that competition eventually plays out.

Whether or not Hall gets selected in Round 4 or Round 7, though, will hinge on those teams’ viewpoints on his value.

49ers quarterback target No. 2: Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA

If measurables are going to be more important for the 49ers than otherwise thought, going after UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson would seem like a smarter day-three strategy.

According to Houston’s KPRC’s Aaron Wilson, the Niners may be leaning that way anyway after going through a private workout for San Francisco:

"Thompson-Robinson has an upcoming visit with the Philadelphia Eagles and is currently visiting the Cincinnati Bengals after previously visiting the Cleveland Browns and conducting private workouts with the San Francisco 49ers and the New Orleans Saints at UCLA, according to league and athletic department sources."

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Generated 4/12/2023.

More of a system quarterback with above-average athleticism, Thompson-Robinson doesn’t hurt for getting the ball out quickly and with accuracy. It’s when plays break down that he can run into trouble.

Speaking of running, he rushed for at least 600 yards in each of the last two seasons but will need to curtail that when plays break down.

It’s likely Thompson-Robinson winds up being a sixth- or seventh-round pick if drafted.

49ers quarterback target No. 1: Tanner McKee, Stanford

From the looks of it, Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee possesses all the physical traits one would want in an NFL-level signal-caller.

At 6-foot-6 and 231 pounds, he has the build and solid arm strength to go with it. And while he had a long and lanky windup early during his collegiate career, the above scouting report noted how he was able to hone this in over the course of 2022 into a more refined delivery.

That helped him put together a productive and efficient campaign with the Cardinal last year:

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Generated 4/12/2023.

General manager John Lynch loves his Stanford connections, but it’s not likely the 49ers would be able to steal McKee on day three of the draft.

No, McKee is likely a day-two pick, perhaps going in Round 3.

Would the Niners target someone like him at that point, though? It doesn’t seem likely, especially with both Lance and Purdy vying to be this year’s QB1.

But, should McKee wind up slipping, it wouldn’t be the worst thing for San Francisco to take advantage. Even if he’d serve as a quarterback waiting in the folds.

The 2023 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 27.