The San Francisco 49ers have the third selection in the 2021 NFL Draft.
At the moment, popular wisdom has Trevor Lawrence going with the top pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Zach Wilson going No. 2 to the New York Jets.
That leaves San Francisco with a big decision.
Clearly the Niners want a quarterback, but will they take Mac Jones, Trey Lance or Justin Fields with their pick?
It appears that not even the organization can settle on an answer.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan is of one mind, while the Niners’ scouting team is of another.
According to Todd McShay of ESPN, the two sides are on a collision course.
“I’m told that many in the 49ers’ personnel department have pushed for North Dakota State QB Trey Lance but that coach Kyle Shanahan wants to draft Alabama’s Mac Jones,” McShay wrote.
“One person I spoke to even heard that Shanahan might ‘acquiesce’ to the scouting department on the selection, but others have said that seems unlikely. At this time of year, there is a lot of seed planting with the rumor mill, and it could certainly be the case here.”
The Niners have made it no secret that they want a new quarterback. They’ve indicated that there are two star passers they’re willing to trade for, and one that they’d give up Jimmy Garoppolo for.
Barring something surprising happening in the next few days, however, it appears as though they’ll get that upgrade at quarterback via draft.
Whom will they ultimately end up selecting?
Time will tell.
More must-reads: