NFL Draft season is always filled with rumors and smokescreens, but this year seems to be taking it all to the next level. After the 49ers traded up to the third pick in the upcoming draft, rumors about which quarterback they’re going to select started up immediately. Already people are — predictably and pointlessly — trying to read into who the 49ers are sending to watch at various pro days.
Former Alabama star Mac Jones is one of the quarterbacks that the 49ers seem to be interested in. In his first, and only, full season as a starter, Jones threw for 4500 yards, 41 touchdowns, just four interceptions, and completed a whopping 77.3% of his passes.
The 49ers appear to be at the end of the line with incumbent starter Jimmy Garappolo and Jones might be a fit for the 49ers. Prior to his Pro Day workout, which will reportedly have 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch in attendance, Jones praised the construction of the 49ers offense.
Alabama QB Mac Jones says he’s watched a lot of 49ers tape. Says their drop-back passing game is similar to what Alabama does. Calls it a “super quarterback fiendly” offense
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) March 29, 2021
It’s somewhat ironic that Jones would admit that the 49ers offense is similar to Alabama’s because it backs up some critics of his play who say he was propped up by good skill players and was just tasked with getting them the ball quickly without thinking or doing too much. In that way, at least, Shanahan’s offense is very much like the one Jones operated in Tuscaloosa. But the offense the 49ers have employed since the trade for Jimmy G isn’t really the fully-fleshed-out version we saw in Atlanta when Shanahan helped Matt Ryan win an MVP award.
When the 49ers traded up for the No. 3 pick, most people inferred it was for a quarterback. The type of quarterback talent who would allow Shanahan to design an offense that is not limited by the physical or mental limitations of his quarterback. Jones appears to have the latter down, but scouts have widely questioned his physical ability.
At least in recent years, teams haven’t had to trade up for a player like Jones. It doesn’t make much sense for the 49ers to take a trip to McDonald’s when they have a Big Mac in the fridge.
There’s still a lot of time before the 2021 NFL Draft kicks off, but it sounds like Jones, at least, thinks he and the 49ers would be a smooth fit. That likely won’t alleviate the concerns of 49ers fans that think he’s he succeeded thanks to great supporting talent and coaching, but maybe they can convince themselves it’s just smoke and mirrors until the pick is actually made.
It’s hard to say, since nobody should read too much into anything this time of year. It’s all meant to deceive. Unless it’s not. But you never can tell the difference.
[mm-video type=playlist id=01f09m93q11d4tbgfy player_id=none image=https://ftw.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]