The San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins agreed to a blockbuster trade recently that created quite the news cycle over the weekend. The 49ers traded their first-round pick this year, in 2022 and 2023 and a third-round pick compensatory pick in 2022 for the Miami Dolphins No. 3 overall selection.
To move up as far as the 49ers did, it almost assuredly means San Francisco will take a quarterback. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported there's not one specific quarterback the 49ers made this move for.
There are five quarterbacks that are believed to be first-round picks in this year's draft: Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Justin Fields, Trey Lance and Mac Jones. Given the talent these prospects posses, this is the year draft pundits believe is the one to grab a quarterback if a team needs one.
This move impacts the Falcons' draft position in a big way. Atlanta owns the No. 4 pick in this year's draft and it's a position that will be coveted because of the attention the quarterback prospects are getting. If general manager Terry Fontenot and coach Arthur Smith want to stay at pick No. 4, they can. But if they want to trade the pick to another team and in return acquire more picks, they are in a great spot to do so. Several teams who have needs at the quarterback spot could end up calling Fontenot with offers to trade up prior to the draft of on opening night.
The Falcons have nine picks in this year's draft as of right now. Fontenot, in his first draft as a general manager, said he abides by taking the best player available strategy. What that means for the Falcons plans with the first-round pick is undetermined at this moment but certainly creates quite the intrigue.
