PFF fixes 49ers' mistake in 2021 NFL redraft

The San Francisco 49ers gave up a lot to move up to the No. 3 overall spot in the 2021 NFL Draft. It was a bold move to add a franchise quarterback, and it eventually became head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's biggest draft blunders.

The 49ers surrendered multiple first-round picks (and more) to select quarterback Trey Lance. After just two seasons in San Francisco, Lance was traded to the Dallas Cowboys. Now, he's serving as a backup quarterback with the Los Angeles Chargers under former 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh.

In his short 49ers career, Lance appeared in only eight games with four starts, throwing for 797 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions.

Recently, Pro Football Focus (PFF) revisited the 2021 NFL Draft with a full first-round redraft, reshaping the class using player grades and performance data. Trevor Lawrence still went No. 1 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but at No. 2, the New York Jets passed on Zach Wilson and instead selected edge rusher Micah Parsons.

In this version, the 49ers pivot away from quarterback and strengthen their offensive line by drafting Oregon tackle Penei Sewell, originally taken seventh overall.

"Since he entered the league in 2021, Sewell (1.84) trails only Trent Williams (1.87) in cumulative PFF WAR among offensive tackles," PFF contributors Max Chadwick, Dalton Wasserman, and Trevor Sikkema wrote. "That is thanks, in large part, to how dominant Sewell has been as a run blocker. In 2023, he earned a 95.1 PFF run-blocking grade. In 2024, he logged another elite mark of 91.5. Pairing Sewell with Williams would be a scary sight for the rest of the league."

Sewell would have been a perfect long-term addition, considering left tackle Trent Williams just turned 37 and right tackle Colton McKivitz is entering the final year of his contract.

Still, the 49ers dodged complete disaster thanks to a selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. With the very last pick of that draft, San Francisco landed Brock Purdy, who emerged as the team's starting quarterback in his rookie season, and whose instant success contributed to the decision to move on from Lance.