Jonah Anderson

Update: Justin Fields draft. Fields was taken by the Chicago Bears, so the 49ers didn’t read this article.

Justin Fields is becoming a divisive player on draft boards, with many experts thinking San Francisco goes with Mac Jones over Fields. I’ll tell you right now, if that happens start chanting “Fire Lynch.” We’re talking about the number three pick because the first two are almost guaranteed. Trevor Lawrence will be the first pick in the draft period. It seems like Zach Wilson will be the number two overall player taken. Fields should be strongly in that conversation, and he was a month or two ago. So what happened? Why has Fields dropped? The answer is simple, no reason at all, or at least no good reason.

Strengths

Let’s talk about Justin Fields for a second here to really understand what kind of player we’re making the argument for. Fields has an absolute cannon of an arm, there are zero concerns about whether he is able to make all the throws. He’s also pinpoint accurate with the ball. He was a little over 67 percent last year and a little over 70 percent this season. Fields is also an elite athlete, running a 4.44 40 yard dash. Fields had a better 2020 season than Trevor Lawrence and outplayed him in their head to head matchup. Wilson did have a better year than both of them, but it was against much weaker competition. Fields also produced two years of elite production while Wilson only has one.

The crazy thing is I also like Wilson a lot. The point I’m trying to make is that the quarterbacks this year are 1. 2a and 2b, or even 1a, 1b, and 1c. While I’d still take Lawrence number one overall, Wilson and Fields aren’t too far behind and I certainly wouldn’t be shocked if one of them ends up having a better career than Lawrence. It’s a coin flip between Wilson and Fields, after Wilson likely goes number two, the 49ers should take 30 seconds to get their pick of Fields in.

False Concerns

If you take one thing away from this article, it’s that any criticism you hear of Justin Fields is overhyped and can absolutely be applied to either Trevor Lawrence or Zach Wilson. Fields can’t read a defense? Have you watched Clemson’s offense? 90 percent of the time Lawrence knows exactly who the ball is going to before the play. It’s not a knock on either guy, it’s just how their schools run offense. You know who else threw to their first read all the time in college? Justin Herbert, this year’s reigning NFL rookie of the year. It’s almost like that’s just how college offenses run these days.

Justin Fields isn’t a hard worker? His coach confirms that Fields comes in on his days off so he can improve. Fields also came back after this hit, missing one whole play and dominating Clemson for the rest of the game. That’s dedication to the game, and if you question that you’re just an idiot.

Final Thoughts

Fields fits the 49ers offense perfectly as well. Kyle Shanahan designs plays where the quarterback knows where the ball is going before it’s snapped. Fields can make literally every throw there is. His arm strength and accuracy are other worldly. Shanahan should be drooling at the thought of putting Fields back there and letting him run his plays. If you’re a 49ers fan, then there’s no debate who your team should take. It’s Justin Fields, assuming Lawrence and Wilson go picks one and two. If the Jets decide to take Fields, then it’s Wilson.

There’s no debate to be had about Mac Jones, Fields will excel in San Francisco mark my words. If the 49ers do pass on Fields, I’d be on the phone with the Falcons ready to pay a king’s ransom to move up to four.