Jimmy Clausen and the San Francisco 49ers: Will It Happen?

With the trade of Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins, many NFL Draft analysts have been thrown into a debate about what affect this has on the incoming quarterback class.

It's widely believed that the St. Louis Rams will select Sam Bradford with the first pick. Until the Redskins acquired McNabb, many thought former Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen would be a natural fit there.

The team needed a quarterback, Clausen is a fairly polished college player, and the Redskins were—so we thought—in rebuilding mode.

Now that they are likely secure in their quarterback need (and unlikely to draft a quarterback early, if at all), Clausen is perceived to be in free-fall, and if he slips past Buffalo, there is no telling where he will land.

One of the most recent—and interesting—landing spots was posited by Todd McShay. In his most recent Mock Draft (which you need to be an Insider to read), McShay points to the San Francisco 49ers as a possible landing point at pick 17.

Can this happen? Would the 49ers—with issues along the offensive line and the opportunity to pick any other positions of need (defensive back, defensive line, even running back)—pull the trigger on a quarterback?

And if they did, would it be the right move?

Here are several reasons I think it won't happen and why.

First, I don't believe the team will leave that first round without an offensive lineman. I don't think Bruce Campbell is a guy I want to reach for at 17, but USC OT Charles Brown is a borderline top tackle in my mind.

If he's there, I cannot see the team picking up Clausen instead of a guy like Brown.

If not a guy like Brown, what about a player like Florida's Joe Haden or Boise State's Kyle Wilson, perhaps maybe even Alabama corner Kareem Jackson? A bit of a reach for a guy like Jackson, but the team needs a cornerback and they need one more than they do a quarterback.

Frankly, while I think that there are still questions—even in San Francisco's front office—about Alex Smith, they are comfortable enough with him going into training camp to wait on a quarterback, either selecting one later or waiting for next year.

Also, as much as I do like Clausen, he isn't such a talent that the team cannot pass on him. He tends to float some passes. He fluctuates between holding the ball a tad too long and checking down too quickly.

Again, this guy was very productive in college, showed tremendous toughness playing last season through his turf toe injury, and has experience in a pro-style offense.

But, like most of the other quarterbacks in this class, he is a project. Less so than say Tim Tebow or Colt McCoy, but he has some rough edges to smooth out and there certainly are some character concerns (a little overblown) which have concerned some teams.

Yes, the 49ers are still only cautiously optimistic in regards to Alex Smith. But he made some good strides last year, is already busy working with second year wideout Michael Crabtree, and has now survived assaults on his position by Shaun Hill and now David Carr.

While we know Mike Singletary and his front office won't shy away from grabbing the best pick available over the most necessary pick available, I think this time need will trump greed.

Jimmy Clausen will probably develop into a pretty good player. Just not for the 49ers.