QB intrigue stirs quiet buzz pot … For those that keep track of these things, the NFL is now just 17 days away and counting. However, whether its because of covid or some other factor, its actually been very quiet around the league when it comes to rumors and the like about the upcoming draft. The one story-line that keeps percolating revolves around the 3rd and 4th picks and which QBs are going where. Its been sort of a given by most analysts, for example, that San Francisco was leaning toward taking Alabama QB Mac Jones with the 3rd pick after fellow QBs Trevor Lawrence of Clemson and BYU’s Zack Wilson went 1-2 to Jacksonville and the Jets respectively, but it doesn’t appear to be quite a done deal as of today. Indeed, the 49ers have confirmed that G.M. John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan will be attending the second pro days of both Justin Fields of Ohio State on Wednesday and that of North Dakota State’s Trey Lance a week from today. In fact, the 49ers appear to be the only team at this time that has confirmed going to either work out. Of course, the 49ers’ brass could just be doing their due diligence, but it is a bit unusual for senior NFL people to be traveling half way across the country ten days before the draft if there wasn’t something there that they wanted to see.
At the same time, there appears to be a growing feeling around the league that Atlanta may not take a QB with the 4th pick overall and instead may stick with incumbent starter Matt Ryan, who is 36, but is coming off a very solid season, and attempt to quickly rebuild the supporting cast around him. If that is the case, the Falcons could have the option of taking a player like Florida TE Kyle Pitts, who is more and more being considered as the top non-QB prospect this year, if not the best overall prospect period, with the 4th pick, or trading down for a package of picks. On the other hand, there is also a growing buzz around the league that several teams picking outside the top ten, including New England and Washington are plotting how they could possibly move up and get one of the QBs that is not taken in the first three picks. The Patriots, for example, are the only other team that is known to be attending Fields’ work out on Wednesday. Could be an interesting couple of weeks. Stay tuned!
