This is the time of year when we would review the performances of the top candidates in the NFL Combine. Instead, we are getting regional harvesters. With that, those places that are being paid to train these athletes can report their own numbers. The result? Everyone is running sub 4.4 in the 40-yard run. Who could have seen this coming?
The free agency is still a few weeks away, which means more mock drafts and quarterback rumors – like switching to Teddy Bridgewater. Trevor Sikkema of The Draft Network launched his Mock Draft 4.0 on Sunday, where he had some surprises. Not only did Sikkema get the 49ers to trade for a quarterback, but also for a quarterback that is polarizing for some:
3. 49ers
Trey Lance
QB, state of North Dakota
Details: 49ers trade 2021 1st (No. 12), 3rd, 5th, 5th, 2022 1st, 3rd and 2023 2nd for Dolphins2021 1st (No. 3) and 2021 6th.
San Francisco giving up the capital needed to trade from No. 12 to No. 3 to get a quarterback can be very rich for some – again, I understand. They will say that the 49ers can succeed with Jimmy Garoppolo, and they would technically not be wrong. But I would tell these people that the 49ers will not win a Super Bowl with Garoppolo, and the winning window for their current squad is closing before some major turnover and new contract cores appear.
I don’t think Deshaun Watson will be negotiated before the draft. Distributing the package for the exchange is advantageous for Miami and San Francisco. For San Francisco, they can still make big enough choices in the next year or two to race, and for the Dolphins, they get capital from the future draft to stay in the driver’s seat for a Watson price in the future, if really comes available.
Before we discussed trade compensation and the player, Peter King said in his FMIA:
I mention this because an NFL coach, whose team is looking for a quarterback this season, told me the other day that Lance scares him. “He’s a guy that we all need to see more of, for a variety of reasons,” said the coach. I won’t be surprised if Lance is passed Mac Jones in the first round comes April.
Opinions on prospecting projects will end. Two people can watch the same player and come up with two completely different opinions. Surprised it would be an understatement if Jones went before Lance, but the NFL proves every year that they have no idea what they are doing when it comes to assessing a defender’s position.
Back to Trevor’s mockery. If San Francisco wants a QB in the first round, they will have to go up. If 49ers really want a QB, they will need to beat other teams’ bids. Adding an extra draft selection for Day 2/3 should solve the problem, which Trevor does.
Since we are in the hypothetical spirit today, you would assume that the Niners traded Jimmy Garoppolo in this scenario – you are not going to move heaven and earth for a QB just to retain Jimmy G – and you got a choice on Day 3, in the worst case. So, at least you will have a choice back.
Now, about Lance. Every quarterback in this draft has flaws. Shocking, I know. The level of competition is not a strong argument against Lance. That’s my conclusion after watching most of his 2019 games. You are looking for execution and the process, not if it is going against 5 * defensive backs and pass rushers.
When you realize that Lance was 19, he is closer to a prodigy, as much as knowing where to go with the ball and going through his readings than a quarterback who needs to sit down. Watching Bills QB, Josh Allen was successful after two years in the NFL and thinking how far he has come from Wyoming makes it difficult to bet against Lance, which is a significantly better prospect than Allen was showing up.
As is the case with Allen, Lance has a rocket in his arm that allows him to try throws that most defenders would not even dream of. Lance makes moves to the far field, leaving his first reading, which would impress anyone. He is more disciplined than Allen in his pocket, but Lance lacks anticipation and has problems with accuracy that must be resolved.
Anticipation can be corrected with more repetitions. The accuracy problems with Bids stem from a mechanical problem in which he bends his shoulders, which can also be corrected. The question is, is this something you are willing to risk when entering the top 3 to select a defender? Probably not.
In Sikkema’s simulation, Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson were first and second overall. Justin Fields was in fifth place, while Mac Jones was in 13th.