Adam Schefter explains how the 49ers came to their decision about a QB at third overall

“I believe they have made that decision.”

ESPN’s Adam Schefter believes the San Francisco 49ers have made their decision on who they’ll take at third overall in the 2021 NFL draft.

So.. who!?

Well, Schefter wouldn’t say on Wednesday’s “Get Up!” It sounds like we will have to wait for the draft for the final decision. And considering the league probably wants some mystery in the top three picks, it’s within the realm of possibility that the NFL asked the 49ers to keep it a secret, so there’s a continued conversation about what San Francisco will do. The NFL loves a good soap opera.

Regardless, the 49ers didn’t make their decision until the last 24 hours, per Schefter. San Francisco may have traded up to third overall with one prospect in mind — but they were open to evaluating the position fully.

“When the San Francisco 49ers traded up to number three, the initial plan was that they were comfortable taking Alabama quarterback Mac Jones at number three, but would have the chance, over the next four and five weeks, to take a deep dive into Justin Fields and Trey Lance,” Schefter said.

“As much as the 49ers love Mac Jones, and they do, I believe that the gap between Mac Jones and the other quarterbacks like Trey Lance has been narrowed considerably to the point where over the weekend, the organization was really going back and forth on all these quarterback. … I can tell you over the weekend they did not know who they were going to take.”

Schefter called Lance “the smartest quarterback in this draft — the smartest — and maybe ready to play a lot sooner than people think.”

The decision was between Lance and Jones, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. (The decision to rule out Justin Fields is questionable … but that’s what has reportedly happened.) Trevor Lawrence is presumed to go to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the New York Jets seem to be honed in on BYU’s Zach Wilson.

In Lance, the 49ers could have a truly boom-or-bust prospect. His raw potential is profound, between his arm talent and his skills as a runner. But there’s just one year of film on him — and it came when he was still a teenager. You have to wonder if there’s a big enough body of work to make a final decision. If he goes in round 1, his 318 snaps would be the fewest by a first-round quarterback in the last 40 years, per ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky.

In Jones, San Francisco would get a prototypical pocket passer, who isn’t good at creating when the play breaks down but who thrived within the excellent system he was given at Alabama (which had no shortage of impressive pass-catchers). It’s possible his ceiling is much lower than Lance’s — but it seems Jones’ floor is higher. At least, that’s the narrative.

The 49ers’ decision will be absolutely fascinating on Thursday night.

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