Justin Fields Rumors: AFC Exec Thinks 49ers Will Draft OSU QB over Mac Jones

Timothy Rapp @@TRappaRTFeatured ColumnistApril 13, 2021

John Bazemore/Associated Press

There's growing buzz that the San Francisco 49ers will draft Alabama quarterback Mac Jones with the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NFL draft, but don't rule out the possibility that Justin Fields will end up with San Francisco instead.

"I don't buy it," an AFC executive told CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora regarding the Jones-to-the-Niners chatter. "I think it's Fields at three."

"I don't know one way or the other, but I have a hard time seeing Mac Jones as the third player in this draft," an NFC executive said.

"Doesn't smell right to me," a separate NFC executive told La Canfora.

It's always hard to know the difference between smokescreens and genuine interest this time of year. One thing to consider is why the 49ers would bother to put out counterintelligence at this point with the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets widely presumed to be set on Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson with the first two picks.

Are the Niners worried a team that loves Fields might offer a bundle to the Jets to move up to No. 2? Are they putting out a Jones smokescreen to prevent that scenario so they can select the Ohio State product? Or do they just love Jones?

NFL on ESPN @ESPNNFL
Tuscaloosa ➡️ San Francisco @McShay13 and @RealTannenbaum think Mac Jones will be headed west on draft night. https://t.co/ummNrgyjqP

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Josh Norris @JoshNorris
"I do know no final decision has been made (at No. 3)" @RapSheet on @PatMcAfeeShow, saying there is a leader in the clubhouse (Mac Jones). "Trey Lance would also be heavily in the conversation in San Fran." So nothing on Justin Fields, still.

Tom Pelissero @TomPelissero
Justin Fields and Trey Lance are both expected to incorporate Kyle Shanahan staples into their second pro days, giving the #49ers the best look possible at their options for the No. 3 pick. @nflnetwork https://t.co/2GV4FCqWXd

The NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah seemingly believes San Francisco's interest is real, projecting Jones to the Niners in his latest mock draft, though he noted he was "surprised that everything you hear points toward Jones being the Niners' pick at No. 3."

Jeremiah ranked Fields as the better prospect, No. 8 on his big board with Jones No. 32. (Lawrence is No. 1, Wilson No. 4 and North Dakota State's Trey Lance No. 7.)

Stephen A Smith @stephenasmith
What’s happening to Justin Fields is some straight B.S. https://t.co/qgUvbwxsIB

Charley Casserly @CharleyCasserly
I surveyed 23 teams on their ranking of the Top 5 QB’s in the @NFLDraft All 23 teams had Trevor Lawrence #1 & Zach Wilson #2 The remaining ranking was #3 Justin Fields, #4 Trey Lance #5 Mac Jones. Interestingly for 3rd place Fields had 13 votes, Lance 6, Jones 4 @nflnetwork

How the 49ers handle the pick will have major ramifications on the rest of the draft (barring the Jets' surprising everyone and not selecting Wilson). If the pick isn't Fields, more than a few people will be surprised, despite the Jones buzz.

"Maybe teams are seeing things we don't see," one team official told La Canfora. "But this kid [Fields] looks special to me."