Concerns about the top quarterbacks available in the 2017 NFL Draft have led one NFL general manager to suggest that none will enter the league as ready-made rookie successes, and NFL Network draft expert Mike Mayock to caution any club about investing a top-10 pick at the position. Clemson's Deshaun Watson, North Carolina's Mitchell Trubisky, Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer and Texas Tech's Patrick Mahomes sit at the top of the class, but with one or more of them, scouts have questioned everything from the system in which they played in college to a lack of experience.
But another GM who happens to hold a top-10 pick -- John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers -- believes this draft class of quarterbacks could be regarded too lightly.
"As I started to study these guys, I thought they were getting a bad rap," Lynch told NFL Network's Steve Wyche on Monday. "They each have reasons why maybe people think they shouldn't go (No.) 2. In Trubisky's case, he's only started 13 games, but you turn on the tape with each of them, and they have redeeming qualities that make you say, 'Wow, this guy would be a part of it,' so we're evaluating them and we'll continue to do so."
Lynch has already acknowledged that the 49ersneed a quarterback of the future, and that Kizer made a strong impression on him at the NFL Scouting Combine during his interview with the club.
"One of the first things Kyle and I talked about (is) you've got to have a franchise quarterback. We know that, we're in search of it, and we're looking at every avenue to try and get that," Lynch added.
Whether the 49ers are prepared to spend the No. 2 overall pick on a quarterback is an entirely different question. If enough NFL clubs view the quarterback draft class as a developmental group, there's a better chance that one of the top options will be available to Lynch when the 49ers select in the second round at No. 34 overall.
Either way, it's pretty clear that Lynch's opinion of the QB field in this draft is higher than most.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
