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Wednesday was the last time Justin Fields was able to show off in person for NFL evaluators, and the 49ers, with Kyle Shanahan, John Lynch and Rich Scangarello (QB coach) all on hand, got an up close and personal look at the Ohio State man.
While the event was not televised, the limited footage released from Ohio State showed Fields doing what he showed throughout his college career; throwing absurdly accurate deep balls.
There have been rumblings around Mac Jones being the selection, but a handful of former players, including some former Shanahan players, say they think Justin Fields will be the 49ers’ selection at No. 3
Richard Sherman has already been on the record saying he believes Fields will be the choice, and doubled down again on his podcast with Cris Collinsworth.
“I still think that Justin Fields is the pick,” Sherman said. “I don’t know what they’re thinking. I don’t think Kyle and John ever show their hand. I’ve never seen speculation to the point that it is right now. This is a feverous pitch of speculation. This is ridiculous.
“And then it’s almost like a smokescreen because every mock has Mac Jones. It’s like, c’mon now. It’s interesting. It’s gonna be interesting and San Francisco’s gonna pretty much control the draft and control what everybody else does.”
While he only spent a season with Shanahan in Cleveland, former All-Pro left tackle Joe Thomas made a pretty confident declaration on Twitter, joining Sherman.
Kyle Shanahan and @49ers are going to draft @justnfields … Save this tweet
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) April 14, 2021
And then there was Maurice Jones-Drew, the former running back, who is now an analyst for NFL Network. In Jones-Drew’s latest mock draft, he also projected the 49ers would draft Fields, and explained why here:
"I see him as a top-notch guy" @MJD sees the @49ers going with _____________ at the third overall pick ? pic.twitter.com/xl1EiX1OOg
— NFL Total Access (@NFLTotalAccess) April 9, 2021
As a bonus, here’s Jerry Rice giving Justin Fields words of wisdom before his pro day.
The GOAT Jerry Rice with an inspiring message to Justin Fields ahead of his big Pro Day today ? #49ers | #FTTB | #FiledsAt3 pic.twitter.com/8dDoQEs3Tz
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers_) April 14, 2021