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49ers rumors: Mac Jones is who Kyle Shanahan wants at quarterback

By Cody Williams

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 11: Mac Jones #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide smiles after the College Football Playoff National Championship football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Hard Rock Stadium on January 11, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 52-24. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 11: Mac Jones #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide smiles after the College Football Playoff National Championship football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Hard Rock Stadium on January 11, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 52-24. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
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Will the San Francisco 49ers take Mac Jones or Trey Lance with the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft? If head coach Kyle Shanahan has his way, it could be the former Alabama quarterback.

Most people consider the San Francisco 49ers, who traded up from the 12th pick to the No. 3 overall selection, the turning point of the 2021 NFL Draft. With that move up the board, we know that the Niners are going to take a quarterback. But whether that player is Trey Lance, Justin Fields, or Mac Jones could determine how the rest of the first round plays out.

The weekend prior to the draft, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported that the 49ers had narrowed their decision down to Lance and Jones. And on Monday, we got some clarification as to what the divide between their reported two options are, namely between head coach Kyle Shanahan and the scouts in San Francisco.

According to ESPN’s Todd McShay (subscription required) reported that Shanahan is sold on Mac Jones being his guy. However, the Niners scouts prefer Lance as the pick, which aligns with the opinion of many analysts and scouts at this point. McShay also noted that Shanahan could still concede to the scouts and other members of the front office when the team is on the clock.

Everything for the 49ers comes down to who makes the final decision.

From everything we’ve heard in the pre-draft process and also seen from Shanahan, it shouldn’t be shocking that Shanahan is sold on Jones. The quick processing quarterback does not possess the athleticism or upside of Lance and Fields but his style of play fits ideally into what Shanahan has succeeded with previously, a la someone like Matt Ryan.

Moreover, the 49ers are in a position where they can clearly contend if their quarterback isn’t a superstar. Even though they want to move on from Jimmy Garoppolo, they made it to the Super Bowl with him under center given the strength of the defense and the foolproof scheme under Shanahan. So bringing in Jones to comfortably fit there right away would make a ton of sense.

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Ultimately, we don’t know if Shanahan’s preference will win out or if the scouts will get their way. But then again, the star of the 49ers offense is its head coach and what he can create with his brilliant mind. So if he thinks Mac Jones gives them the best chance for that to succeed, perhaps that will be the determining factor when they turn in the draft card.