NFL Draft 2021: Justin Fields Tipped to Follow the Path of Sam Darnold, Matt Ryan

San Francisco 49ers made a statement move on Friday by opting to trade up and secure the 3rd overall pick at the 2021 NFL Draft from AFC East franchise, Miami Dolphins.

GM John Lynch and HC Kyle Shanahan had both publicly offered their support to 29-year-old quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who endured yet another injury-stricken season with the 49ers in 2020.

Now it could be time for another young quarterback to take over in The Bay. As reports indicate, it might just Ohio State superstar Justin Fields.

The Red and Gold gave up three 1st-round picks and a 3rd-round pick in exchange for Miami’s 2021 1st-round pick. In essence, they’ve basically given up their short-term future and made a huge gamble going all-in for a quarterback this summer.

With Clemson Tigers man Trevor Lawrence expected to join the Jacksonville Jaguars and BYU’s Zach Wilson reportedly on his way to the New York Jets, Fields could be the ideal man to come in as the 3rd-overall pick at the 2021 NFL Draft which begins on April 29th, 2021.

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Will Justin Fields sign for the San Francisco 49ers in 2021?

Justin Fields had a tremendous season with the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2020. In 8 games last year, Fields threw for 2,100 yards with 22 passing TDs against just 6 interceptions.

He led his team all the way to the CFP National Championship final where they lost to Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide Football team.

He concluded his NCAA career with 5,300+ receiving yards, 60+ passing TDs against just 9 interceptions playing for Georgia State and Ohio.

Of course, there are other quarterbacks in the draft who are commanding major attention such as Trey Lance (NDSU), Mac Jones (Alabama Crimson Tide), Sam Ehlinger (Texas Longhorns), and Kyle Trask (Florida Gators). But sources within the league more or less maintain that Fields will don the Red and Gold jersey in 2021.

The above list contains the names of quarterbacks who have been 3rd-overall picks between 1994-2018. The list includes some big names such as Steve McNair, Vince Young, Matt Ryan, cult hero Blake Bortles and even the misfiring Sam Darnold.

The latter is reportedly edging closer to an exit from the New York Jets organization. Meanwhile, Ryan could be playing for the Atlanta Falcons for the very last time in what has been a distinguished career in the NFL.

Coach Shanahan remains one of the finest footballing minds in the league right now. Bringing in a young gem like Fields will allow the 49ers to truly explode as an offense and hopefully add some consistency to their organization.

Jimmy G has been decent at best in his 4-year stay in San Francisco. The time to move on is now.

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