Seaside NFL Draft Thoughts, final rumors

NFL Draft Rumors

• Saints want to trade up for Penei Sewell.

• Aaron Rodgers wants out of Green Bay.

• Broncos would put Drew Lock on the block if a QB falls to them.

• Trey Lance in play for the 49ers still, betting line shifts towards Lance as favorite.

• Value of 2022 draft picks is “like gold” right now.

• Tim Tebow worked out for the Jaguars as a tight end.

• Cowboys are leaning towards Jaycee Horn at 10. They’ll be happy with Patrick Surtain II.

• More of my thoughts on why I believe that the 49ers will select Mac Jones. Who does he remind you of? There are a lot of different answers. But I wanted to profile the quarterbacks that Kyle Shanahan has brought in over the last three or four years as examples of what he looks for in a quarterback. In the draft, the 49ers selected C.J. Beathard in third round in 2017. They also signed Nick Mullens as an undrafted free agent. Mullens was described by one Southern Miss devotee as a QB whose “mental processing is off the charts.”

  USMVoice @USMVoice

  @JackHammer_NFL @KeAndreEdwards @grantcohn I’ve watched Mullens develop as he worked with Todd Monken at Southern Miss. I’ve seen his game develop & his mental processing speed is off the charts. I just don’t think the 49er fans have any tolerance for a developing young player. NFL QB is a harder position than fans know.

• Mullens is just under 6’1, he’s about 215 lbs, and in the draft it was said that in spite of his lack of arm strength, he could make all the throws, he was accurate, good footwork, great anticipation, but he wasn’t a good athlete. Sounds a lot like Mac Jones, who is 6’2, 217 lbs, and has those same perceived weaknesses and strengths. Beathard is almost the same exact size as Jones, but is maybe a better athlete and he was praised for the work that he could do outside of the pocket when the plays break down. I don’t know if Beathard is a great comp for Jones or not, but there are similarities. Perhaps there are even more similarities between Beathard and Lance.

• Coming out of college, Jimmy Garoppolo (6’2, 226 lbs, his 7.04 three-cone time is identical to Mac Jones, but Jones is a better athlete) was praised for decision making and a quick release, criticized for not being a dual threat QB and playing against small school competition. There’s some comparison to Lance, but probably a lot more to Jones. Of course, the 49ers had the benefit of some NFL tape on Garoppolo before acquiring him.

• San Francisco currently has Josh Rosen as a backup project. Rosen is virtually the exact same size as Lance, but his strengths and weaknesses are a lot more like Jones: strong footwork and mechanics, pocket poise, accuracy, intelligence, but not enough arm strength. He wasn’t praised for decision making, but at least for the 49ers, they didn’t pay much to acquire him.

• The 49ers also have Nate Sudfeld. While he’s also huge (6’6) kind of like Beathard, Sudfeld’s strengths are: good mechanics, good footwork in the pocket, steps into the pocket, poised in the pocket, touch passer. His weaknesses include: doesn’t have “NFL arm,” not mobile, not a playmaker outside of the pocket.

• Another backup, Josh Johnson, doesn’t have as clear of scouting reports because he’s been in the league so long. He’s the same size as Mac Jones.

• The strengths for Mac Jones per USAToday: “Accuracy, decision-making, and the ability to read and manipulate opposing defenses. His footwork and mechanics are smooth and fluid, and he can deliver a catchable ball to all levels of the field.”

• Sounds a lot like those other QBs. His weaknesses? “Not a dual threat.” “Not a strong arm.” Sounds a lot like those other guys, but while everyone is saying that Mac Jones “doesn’t have the ceiling of the other QBs,” they’re ignoring the fact that none of the QBs that Kyle Shanahan has brought into San Francisco had near the ceiling of Mac Jones. For what Shanahan wants to do, Mac Jones is the preeminent prospect. That’s what I believe the 49ers traded three first round picks for: Mac Jones is like all the other QBs that he’s had in San Francisco, but better, younger, and healthier.

• The Draft Network said that Mac Jones would work best in the Erhardt-Perkins offensive system. The Patriots run this system and would be a clear fit for Mac Jones if the 49ers don’t draft him. But the 49ers also have a direct connection to Erhardt-Perkins… Kyle Shanahan’s first NFL job was an assistant for the Bucs in 2004. His offensive coordinator at the time was Bill Muir and Bill Muir’s first job was with the Patriots in 1982. Ron Erhardt, half of the name of the offensive system, had been the head coach in New England from 1979-1981 and much of the offense remained in place when he left. So Kyle Shanahan’s first NFL boss, his first NFL gig was coaching the Erhardt-Perkins offensive system.

• The QB for the 2004 Bucs was Brian Griese, a QB who is the same size as Mac Jones and who led the NFL in completion percentage that year. The next year the starter was Chris Simms, the same person who believes that Kyle Shanahan will draft Mac Jones.

• Kyle Shanahan left for the Texans in 2006. He became QB coach in 2007 and the QB was Matt Schaub, a 6’5, 240 lb pocket passer who has a smooth delivery, poised in the pocket, can handle pressure, efficient in short passing game, confident, but lacking arm strength and mobility.

• I mean …. I mean …. I mean ….