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We’re officially less than a month away from the 2021 NFL Draft, and speculation will continue to grow around who the San Francisco 49ers will take with the third pick.
General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan pulled off the biggest move of the offseason as they struck a deal with the Miami Dolphins to acquire the No.3 pick. It’s no secret that the Niners plan to take their quarterback from the future; the question is who will it be?
Austin Gayle of Pro Football Focus released his latest two-round mock draft and handed the selection of Justin Fields of Ohio State to San Francisco.
The 49ers haven’t traded two future first-round picks and a future third-round pick to give Jimmy Garoppolo another wide receiver or add to the secondary. With all signs that Lawrence and Wilson were the first two players to leave the board, general manager John Lynch knew it was time to strike and secure his next favorite quarterback. And while there has been speculation the 49ers will take on North Dakota State’s Trey Lance or even former Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, PFF’s No. 3 pick is Justin Fields. of the state of Ohio.
Concerns about Fields’ handling and his tendency to hold the ball too long in his pocket are valid, but the prospect of his development in these areas, coupled with his proven athletic ability and precision, should be too good for San Francisco can pass it on. Fields is the third overall PFF player and the third quarterback prospect in the 2021 class. He is also the only quarterback in this class with two years of PFF scores over 90.0 (2019-20 ).
Fields had a strong performance on his pro day, running a 4.43-40 yard scorecard and throwing several pretty pitches to wow NFL staff across the league. San Francisco deputy general manager Adam Peters was in attendance for Fields’ professional day.
Fields said he would happily host individual training with the 49ers – or anyone else – wanted to see him in person again.
Gayle has San Francisco with a defensive player with his second pick, taking LSU linebacker Jabril Cox to 43rd.
Cox played three seasons with North Dakota State University before moving to the Tigers for his senior season.
Here is Tony Pauline of the Pro Football Network scouting report on Cox heading into the draft.
The positive points: Athletic and disciplined chase linebacker with a solid build. Agile, fluid moving sideways and gets tremendous depth when dropping. Efficient, instinctive and goes side to side the sideline covering a formidable area. Stay disciplined with assignments, read the action effectively, and take the proper angles to play.
Quickly picks up cover assignments, stays with your back down low, and plays until his time of 40. Fluid in his hips, has good turning abilities and really stands out for his coverage. Effectively uses his hands for protection and is rarely on his feet.
Negative: Not too big and doesn’t stack well against the run. Struggles that take blocks.
Analysis: Cox is a hard-working linebacker who plays hard and instinctive football. He’s a true three-down defenseman and a traditional 4-3 outside linebacker who needs to get a little stronger to finish his game. Cox offers a ton of benefits, and with the right coaching and in the right system, he could be a quick starter to the next level.
The 49ers could use some depth at the position. All-Pro Fred Warner and Dr. Greenlaw have been an outstanding pair and a figure to be the heart of the defense for years to come. After that, the Niners have Azeez Al-Shaair and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles under contract.
What position would you like the 49ers to approach with their second-round pick?
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