The 49ers looked first-hand to personally evaluate both Justin Fields and Mac Jones as they considered the options for the overall No. 3 in the 2021 NFL draft. Fields’ impressive pro-day last week has now made him the most popular favorite in the San Francisco pick, after Mac Jones was the supposed preference for a few weeks.
Trey Lance is also expected to be at No. 3 in the talks for the 49ers, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Sunday morning that the 49ers ‘performance could be an absolute chance to beat the 49ers’ performance on Monday. to relieve. .
“I’m being told that Lance can absolutely swing their decision on the No. 3 pick with a big performance,” Fowler said on Sportsports. “Because the 49ers follow it with an open mind and a broad approach, they are still watching all the quarterbacks. And without any combination this year and a lack of feature film, these pro days are gaining more importance. They want to so see that Lance is moving around and moving in play action, and will adjust things to what the 49ers will do on offense.There will be several teams in the top-10 there to watch Lance see what he can do.
“And so the 49ers are going to keep an eye on Lance on his pro day, they’re going to go back to Santa Clara, they’re going to hold organizational meetings and they’re going to try to figure out exactly what they’re doing with the third pick pretty soon.”
RELATED: Why Jones 49ers NFL Concept Talks a ‘Smoke Screen’ to Brooks
Lance remains the biggest unknown in this draft class, as he is the only one of the five expected first-round backs to have played at the FC Championship (Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)) level in college. He only had one full season as an appetizer in the North Dakota state, but he had 42 total touchdowns and not an interception in the 2019 campaign, which culminated in a national championship for the Bison.
He has the size and speed of an NFL quarterback, and he will get another chance on Monday to show his arm in front of the 49ers’ top decision-makers in coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.
Since the 49ers expect to have the choice between Lance, Jones or Fields with the No. 3 pick, every chance of evaluation is important to the 49ers’ front office.
Many rumors will still fly around as we get closer to the draft night, but no one will know until Roger Goodell announces a name on April 29th.
Download the 49ers Talk Podcast and subscribe