One division rival of the San Francisco 49ers is not buying into the team drafting Alabama quarterback Mac Jones with the third overall pick.
The 2021 NFL Draft will begin with the San Francisco 49ers, who hold the third overall pick following their trade with the Miami Dolphins. As soon as they made the move, the 49ers were instantly projected to select Alabama quarterback Mac Jones. After Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields held his second Pro Day this week, he is now trending to be the next signal caller for the 49ers.
Benjamin Allbright of KOA Colorado has been hearing a lot of buzz connecting Fields to the 49ers when talking to people around the league. In fact, a NFC West rival told Allbright they are not buying into the talk of the team drafting Jones, even if Goodell announces his name at the podium later this month!
49ers: Division rival not buying the Mac Jones to San Francisco buzz
Even with the talk of Jones being a perfect fit in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense, one of their rivals does not believe it.
When the Niners traded three first-round picks (2021-23) and a 2022 third-round pick, it became abundantly clear that they would take a quarterback. As soon as the trade was made official, many were stunned that the rumors and reports that the 49ers did so to take Jones out of Alabama instead of Fields. The talk continued following Jones’ Pro Day at Alabama, in which Shanahan and 49ers general manager John Lynch were in attendance.
Ironically enough, Shanahan and Lynch were in attendance for Fields’ second Pro Day, in which football and draft fans saw a photo of the head coach and quarterback talking and smiling. Twenty-four hours later, Fields was the betting favorite to be San Francisco’s pick.
Yet, the buzz can shift to North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, who has another Pro Day set for this upcoming Monday. And surprise, surprise, Shanahan and Lynch will be in attendance for that showcase as well!
Even though there are still two weeks remaining until the NFL Draft, that is still plenty of time for the Niners to change their minds on who they they believe can be their starting quarterback of the future. If you ask one of the 49ers rivals, they do not see Mac Jones being the guy for them.