On the heels of a report from NFL Network/NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport that the 49ers are zeroing in on either Mac Jones or Trey Lance for the No. 3 pick, comes further explication.
Kyle Shanahan has his guy and the scouts have theirs. Per ESPN’s Todd McShay:
"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."
Last week, there was a report that general manager John Lynch was locked in on Lance.
Conspicuously absent from the recent reports is Justin Fields, who, reportedly could be a New England Target. Peter King, in his exhaustively-detailed Football Morning in America Mock Draft, tabbed Jones at the pick at No. 3.
The NFL Draft kicks off at 5pm on Thursday.