There is a significant emphasis on Pro Days in preparation for preparing players and teams with the NFL combination canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the Pro Days the 49ers attended was that of Clemson full-back Trevor Lawrence. While San Francisco could have been in the market early on for a signal caller, they would not have been able to make a move that would make the overall choice and Lawrence away from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Why then did they undertake the journey to look at the star prospect? The Peters vice president of player staff, Adam Peters, explained Matt Barrows in a fascinating look at the team’s preparations for this year’s draft.
“It was not just Trevor Lawrence,” Peters told Barrows in the Athletic. ‘There were a few (Clemson players) there. And Ethan Waugh, our university director, he lives in South Carolina. So it’s an easy journey for him. And then there is Steve Rubio, who is our Southeast explorer, there are some other Clemson players along with some free agents. ”
Peters also noted that the 49ers did some final work to conclude a report on Lawrence, who is definitely going to the Jaguars with the overall number 1.
It makes sense that the team does not want to reveal exactly who they should see, but the Tigers are a loaded club with talents of pro-caliber talent, including Travis Etienne and attacking linebacker Jackson Carman. The unsolicited rookie of 49ers 2020, Chris Finke, was one of the free agents Lawrence attended.
While the 49ers are still ironing out exactly how they want to navigate all of the Pro Days, it would come as no surprise to see them turn up at several of the top quarterbacks’ personal training sessions. General manager John Lynch has already noted that he attended Patrick Mahomes’ pro day as a smokescreen, but the club could also look at some of the top callers or others who are working out the day.
Pro Day attendance is important, but it may not always seem like in San Francisco’s presence to watch Lawrence.