The San Francisco 49ers' reportedly had their sights set on North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance and Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields when they traded up to the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft in March.
According to NFL.com's Jim Trotter, the Niners made the trade with the Miami Dolphins well ahead of the draft so they could further evaluate both Lance and Fields before deciding on one. Ultimately, the 49ers selected Lance.
Trotter reported that while the 49ers had some interest in Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, they viewed him as a "safety net" because of the idea that he isn't a transcendent talent.