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San Francisco 49ers Rumors: Quarterback Jared Goff To The 49ers, According To Latest Mock Drafts

By Phillip Dengler
Published on: 13:03 PST, Mar 5, 2016

With the 2016 NFL draft less than two months away, rumors are heating up regarding what the San Francisco 49ers are going to do with the No. 7 overall pick. While the 49ers have been connected to numerous free agent quarterbacks, including Robert Griffin III and Sam Bradford, the team may look to the draft to fill the position in the first round. Previously, California Golden Bears quarterback Jeff Goff was projected to be drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the No. 2 overall pick, but the latest mock drafts have him falling to the 49ers at No. 7.

Since Colin Kaepernick is still a member of the 49ers, there is a chance that he could be with the team next year. Regardless of how the team handles Kaepernick, they are still in need of a young quarterback. Kaepernick has too many flaws, and Blaine Gabbert is nothing more than a backup quarterback. Since this year’s quarterback class is viewed as a downgrade from last year’s, it could benefit Goff to sit for a year before playing. Even NFL-ready prospects such as Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston struggled in their first seasons, so it would not be a surprise if Goff is given a year to learn.

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, many analysts believe that Chip Kelly prefers Gabbert to Kaepernick. While Gabbert could provide a veteran presence for a young quarterback, he is not going to win a ton of games for the 49ers. Regardless, he is most likely a better mentor than Kaepernick, so he could still be a valuable asset for the team next year.

As seen in the NFL.com mock draft, Carson Wentz will be drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the No. 2 overall pick, which will allow the 49ers to select Goff at No. 7.

“Is Goff a perfect fit for Chip Kelly’s offense? To be honest, I don’t even know what a perfect fit even looks like for Kelly anymore. I just know that Goff has talent and Kelly needs a quarterback.”

While the writers at NFL.com are not exactly saying the match is perfect, it really does not matter. Chip Kelly is a genius when it comes to making quarterbacks look better than they are. Under Kelly’s coaching, Nick Foles, Mark Sanchez, and Sam Bradford put up some of the best numbers of their careers. Since Goff is young and ready to be groomed, Kelly could really get the most out of his skill set.

As seen in the Bleacher Report mock draft, Goff will also fall to the 49ers at No. 7. Previous mock drafts on both of these sites had Goff and Wentz being drafted within the first four picks, but the Dallas Cowboys have said they are not going to take a quarterback in the opening round. Whether or not Jerry Jones is bluffing or not remains to be seen, but he has stated numerous times that he believes Tony Romo will be able to play for another five years.

As Niners Nation reported, many NFL insiders and analysts believe that Goff is a great fit for what Kelly and the 49ers want to do on offense. Former NFL personnel executive Charley Casserly discussed the potential of a Goff and Kelly pairing.

“I think what Chip Kelly wants in a quarterback – and by the way, I’m sure he scouted this guy in college, so he already has an opinion on him – is No. 1, what I’ve been told is this, quick decision-making, and accuracy with the football. Quick-decision making, give (Goff) a triple-plus there. Ball comes out quick, good ability to go to the second receiver, exceptional vision downfield for a quarterback, as far as reading things. Now, accuracy, I really like him short to medium, but he’s about a 50/50 guy when the ball is going deep. I’ve seen him good on the fade, good on the touch, and I’ve seen him miss some balls (deep). But certainly decision-making and quick release, he’s outstanding there in what Chip Kelly wants in a quarterback.”

After finishing with a 5-11 record last season, the 49ers are going to struggle again this season. The Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals are two of the best teams in the NFL, so it is unlikely that Kelly can turn things around in one season. Regardless of his end in Philadelphia, Kelly did win a lot of games with Andy Reid’s old players. Securing a young quarterback is the first step in the 49ers’ rebuilding process, and Jared Goff could very well be the best option.

Rumors will continue to come out regarding the San Francisco 49ers and who they are going to pick in the upcoming NFL draft. While the Cleveland Browns were originally expected to draft Goff at No. 2, the latest mock drafts believe that he will be available for the 49ers at No. 7.

[Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images]

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