Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins on Monday officially declared for the 2019 NFL draft. The news of a quarterback declaring isn’t a big deal for the 49ers in a vacuum. They have their franchise quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo. It could have a residual impact though given their position in the draft.
The first team that could conceivably draft a quarterback in the top five, albeit unlikely, is the Oakland Raiders at No. 4. Tampa Bay could also go that direction at No. 5. The Giants and Jaguars at Nos. 6 and 7 might also pick a quarterback.
Early returns on this quarterback class aren’t favorable, and Haskins has the inside track to be the consensus top signal caller available. With a premium on quarterback play, especially when that quarterback is on a rookie contract and under team control for cheap for at least four years, teams in need of a quarterback will jump at the opportunity to select perhaps the only first-round talent in the draft.
At No. 2, the 49ers could be in position to become the team that quarterback-needy franchises look to to execute a trade. Stockpiling more picks to move back a couple spots might be worth it in a class full of promising EDGE prospects.
There’s also a scenario where a team doesn’t move up to the 49ers’ spot, but rather above it. If the Cardinals at No. 1 make a move back with franchise in need of a quarterback, it puts the 49ers in a position to have the entire EDGE class in their hands at No. 2.
Perhaps no teams opt to move up to the top two for Haskins, but any hype for this quarterback class is good for the 49ers. Whether it means a team moving to No. 1 and giving the 49ers more options with their pick, or a team unloading a ton of draft capital to move up to the 49ers’ selection at No. 2, there’ll be plenty of options for general manager John Lynch and the front office in a year where they have to nail the draft.
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