It looks like 49ers are set to acquire a quarterback sometime in this year’s draft. Even if they are not aiming for a long-term beginner, they need to find a suitable backup for Jimmy Garoppolo. There is a scenario in which they do not recruit a quarterback, but use a pickaxe to acquire one in exchange. A simulated draft in Pro Football Focus makes this move to San Francisco.
In this mock PFF, the 49ers negotiated general choice No. 12 for Miami for second year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after the Dolphins took Justin Fields from Ohio with the third general selection they acquired from the Texans in Laremy Tunsil’s trade.
It is not an acquisition from nothing. This mock has three defenders going in the first three choices and five going in the first nine. Given the bunch of 49ers’ needs, it’s hard to see them breaking up with a ton of draft capital to go up and arrest a signal caller in case the market for them is hypercompetitive at the start of the draft.
Swapping choice # 12 for a former top 23-year-old who is needed at all three levels of the passing game makes a lot of sense if the 49ers are prioritizing such a high position in this year’s draft.
However, there is a big question mark around whether Tagovailoa is the signal caller that they would spend choice # 12. He made 6-3 in nine games for the Dolphins as a rookie this season. Their numbers were not very impressive with a 64.1 percent completion rate, 6.3 yards per attempt, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. There is also the fact that he was replaced several times in favor of the newsboy Ryan Fitzpatrick.
The Dolphins’ organization supported Tagovailoa and its future development, but it would be easy to see how cautious 49ers could be in taking on this project when they were ready to compete in the Super Bowls.