NFL 2020-21 Season

I think this means the 49ers likely want Fields or Wilson - most likely Fields. If so, it'll be nice to get a QB who can scramble., and if they keep Garrapolo they can even bring Fields (or Wilson) in slowly to help either's development. I'm not sure it's worth 2 more #1 picks, but its done. They'll need to draft best available CB in 2nd Round. Sherman will not last a full season at all.
 
Rewatching some highlights, Fields runs a sub 4.5 apparently .....that'll give most linebackers problems in the NFL.....he looks as quick as Russell Wilson at least......Zach Wilson meanwhile while slower appears craftier. 49ers will take whichever one drops. I like Zach Wilson's throws....but Fields gives the 49ers alot more misdirection trickery in the run game; and Zach Wilson (an ok runner) already a better scrambler than Jimmy G......either rookie is fine.....hard to tell which one will be clearly better at this point.
 
If you're curious how fast Justin Fields is take a look at the end of this highlight video below at just pass 6 min mark - a subtle but nice highlight, Fields starts back about 7 or 8 yards and easily overtakes his own RB and Spartans FS in 30+ yards or so to provide some support blocking.


In the NFL, he would probably land at 3rd or 4th behind Jackson and Murray, and level with Hill, and a bit faster than Mariota.

That speed will translate well in the NFL, but the knock on Fields (like many in the NFL) is his reads. NFL QBs must go through their progressions in under 3s and optimally 2s with today's pass rushes.

I've seen some mock draft with 49ers trading up for Trey Lance - I think that'd be a mistake. Lance looks decent but not worth extra #1 picks.. I think they're targeting Fields or Wilson.

I actually don't much like the trade-up - its a fairly big gamble trading away 2 additional future top players for QB now. Some may see It as necessary, and it may or may not work out, but its a bunch to pay - 2 additional #1s and #3. Like any gambling, the more wagered, the bigger the win or loss. If it doesn't work well (ie Wilson or Fields flop), the 49ers would be giving up possibly top 10 draft picks in subsequent years - enough to get top positional player twice. Even the fastest players at QB get flummoxed in the NFL.....the speed comes in handy, but if a QB makes too many bad decisions, it won't save a loss. One thing for sure, people will have higher expectations.

On a similar type note, this next year it'll be interesting with the Saints - see how good Taysom Hill is as the principle starter with this throwing over the whole year.
 
It’s all a moot point as Jimmy will get a boo boo three series into the season anyways.
Or...

He leads us back to the Super Bowl then we trade him next year for multiple picks and promote his replacement en route to an even better 2022 season! :D

I'm not that worried about Jimmy though. If he's healthy enough to play we can still win with him in the near future. It's trying to find the franchise quarterback in this year's crop of potentials that makes me nervous. They're not all going to be studs and we've invested a lot already on the assumption that we'll get this pick right. So far Lynch and Shanahan have had more success finding top-tier talent in the middle rounds which makes this all-in approach that much more nerve wracking..
 
Jimmy’s not good enough without the elite 2019 defense. He’s the ticket to a third place finish in the division.
I get that you hate Jimmy G but I hope you also realize that odds are pretty damn high that whoever we draft with this pick turns out the same or worse. At least the guy we currently have is a proven starter. Our current backup QB Josh Rosen went from top 10 pick to potentially out of a job in just 2 years. And that happens all the time in the NFL.
 
Garoppolo is in the company of QBs who need good protection to flourish (Cousins, Prescott, Ryan, etc) . I would be disappointed if the 49ers select anyone other than Fields or Wilson. If they are keeping Garoppolo, like they say they are, I tend to think it's only Fields and Wilson. One mock draft had the Jets taking the top tackle I think - more interesting question is who to take between Wilson and Fields, if they're both there - maybe not a simple choice. I don't know how durable Fields would be with the Pro Option. He doesn't look as big as Jackson. However if you look at the list of top 10 QBs, minus Brady and now retired Brees, all are moderately to highly mobile. I tend to think they're looking at Fields even over Wilson. I wouldn't fault them for picking Wilson though, and really either are fine. Garoppolo has about a 2 game losing streak hot seat. If they lose more than 2 in a row, they'll bring in the rookie. If they do pick up Fields, I can see the 49ers using him earlier in addition to Garoppolo like the Saints used Hill during the season.
 

Tetsujin

The Game Thread Dude
In a way, I’m glad that people convincing themselves the Niners are taking Mac Jones a month before the draft has replaced potentially trading for Deshaun Watson despite him now facing over twenty sexual harassment accusations as the dominant 49ers WB narrative.
 
I actually love scouting NFL prospects too, although not nearly as much as basketball players. I think there's a lot more moving parts involved with NFL scouting. Tons of factors that won't even catch the naked eye of a fan. Scouting for the NFL is a lot harder than it is for the NBA.

For that reason, I'm going to trust whoever Shanahan picks at #3. He's one of the best offensive minds in the NFL.
 

SLAB

Hall of Famer
I actually love scouting NFL prospects too, although not nearly as much as basketball players. I think there's a lot more moving parts involved with NFL scouting. Tons of factors that won't even catch the naked eye of a fan. Scouting for the NFL is a lot harder than it is for the NBA.

For that reason, I'm going to trust whoever Shanahan picks at #3. He's one of the best offensive minds in the NFL.
Shanahan thought CJ Beathard was a better prospect than both Watson and Mahomes.
 
I actually love scouting NFL prospects too, although not nearly as much as basketball players. I think there's a lot more moving parts involved with NFL scouting. Tons of factors that won't even catch the naked eye of a fan. Scouting for the NFL is a lot harder than it is for the NBA.

For that reason, I'm going to trust whoever Shanahan picks at #3. He's one of the best offensive minds in the NFL.
Yep this is why I rarely comment on it. Not that NBA scouting is easy but the NFL is a whole other animal. The only two comments I've really made about NFL scouting were that I thought Derek Carr was going to wind up being a really good QB. That looked like a good prediction for a while and then fizzled out. The other was me not seeing anything that would make Solomon Thomas the 3rd pick in the draft. He looked like a guy that would be 3rd on the depth chart so I have no idea what the professional scouts saw.
 
Shanahan thought CJ Beathard was a better prospect than both Watson and Mahomes.
I kinda doubt that he really thought this. NFL teams say this all the time with prospects that they draft. About how their drafted player was the best at their position. I don't think most NFL teams drafting in the 3rd round expect their QB to be more than a good backup in the NFL. Maybe there's some hope that they can develop into a Kirk Cousins?

I do think we whiffed on not drafting a QB in 2017, but it was their first year in office and iirc, we were heavily trying to pursue a Kirk Cousins trade.
 
Yep this is why I rarely comment on it. Not that NBA scouting is easy but the NFL is a whole other animal. The only two comments I've really made about NFL scouting were that I thought Derek Carr was going to wind up being a really good QB. That looked like a good prediction for a while and then fizzled out. The other was me not seeing anything that would make Solomon Thomas the 3rd pick in the draft. He looked like a guy that would be 3rd on the depth chart so I have no idea what the professional scouts saw.
Very strange... I had the same 2 takes. I knew Carr was going to end up as a really good QB. I actually really wanted the 9ers to draft him and replace Kaepernick at the time. He hasn't turned out as good as I thought he could be (top 10 QB), but he was vastly underrated. I also wasn't a huge fan of Solomon Thomas. The production just wasn't there at Stanford when it came down to him.

The hardest position to scout in the NFL for me has to be WR. You can have a 5'11 WR with average speed and poor separation, but he'll still light up the league (Jarvis Landry). Or you can have a 6'2 WR with solid speed and great catch radius who busts in the NFL (Josh Doctson). Evaluating WRs is super challenging because a player can have all that you want, but still bust. On the other hand, they could be missing key traits, but still excel.
 
Very strange... I had the same 2 takes. I knew Carr was going to end up as a really good QB. I actually really wanted the 9ers to draft him and replace Kaepernick at the time. He hasn't turned out as good as I thought he could be (top 10 QB), but he was vastly underrated. I also wasn't a huge fan of Solomon Thomas. The production just wasn't there at Stanford when it came down to him.

The hardest position to scout in the NFL for me has to be WR. You can have a 5'11 WR with average speed and poor separation, but he'll still light up the league (Jarvis Landry). Or you can have a 6'2 WR with solid speed and great catch radius who busts in the NFL (Josh Doctson). Evaluating WRs is super challenging because a player can have all that you want, but still bust. On the other hand, they could be missing key traits, but still excel.
I agree. All those Lions first round WR busts looked good to me in college. I guess I just don't have the eye for it and QB is almost as difficult for me. Some of these pocket passers look really good in college and then look completely lost in the NFL. I just don't know what nuances to look for that translate since the games are so different.
 

SLAB

Hall of Famer
Watson’s accusers’ lawyer will now NOT turn over information to the Houston police department.

The way the lawyer has handled everything from his grandiose IG case opening post to this newest development has felt ... off?
 
Watson's legal team just provided 18 signed statements vouching for him. Reading them I am reminded somewhat of some of the training we teach our students for invasive lower anatomy exams.

I realize he's a pro athlete on the road and he may just have to take whoever he can get to massage him when he needs one, but he ought to consider hiring a full time masseuse who is vetted.

I'll also recall very early in my career doing some work in a Vegas casino and becoming friendly with some of the spa staff and they had a very strict same sex masseuse policy. And I watched dozens of men walk in and walk out when they learned of said policy. But it's also something maybe a guy should consider if he can't get his vetted masseurs.
 
The Niners main beat writer I follow is just constantly pumping the Mac Jones rumors. Ugh... I can’t take another 29 days.
I watched nearly every Alabama game last season... I could try to answer any questions about him for you if it'll make it easier haha. I know lots of fans hate Mac Jones at #3, but I think he'd really fit with our team instantly. Definitely one of the plug and play QBs for a team in the Superbowl hunt.

This is a super lengthy video, but a former DII QB and now a QB camp trainer did a breakdown of Mac Jones against Tennessee and Georgia. In the video, he breaks down the little things that Mac does and processes. I think these are probably the things that impress NFL heads the most.


Should note, this YouTube video was done almost a month before the 49ers traded up to #3. The things he says at the end of the video should help with any fears.