49ers: Ranking the quarterback options with third overall pick

The San Francisco 49ers will have a new franchise quarterback when the dust settles on the 2021 NFL Draft.

That much is indisputable after the Niners struck a huge trade to move up to the third overall pick in a deal with the Miami Dolphins, sending first-rounders in 2022 and 2023 as well as the number 12 selection this year to get into a position to land one of the top five quarterbacks in the class.

No team parts with such capital for anything but a quarterback and, while the 49ers may still be standing by Jimmy Garoppolo and committing to him in the short term, his time as the guy under center for San Francisco unquestionably grows short.

Who will be the 49ers starting QB in 2021?

It is obvious it will not be Trevor Lawrence, as the Clemson superstar is a near-certainty to be selected with the first overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The expectation is that Zach Wilson of BYU will be the second overall pick of the New York Jets, though that is far from set in stone and the possibility of Wilson landing with the Niners, who won a Super Bowl with BYU great Steve Young, remains in play.

Beyond that, North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, Justin Fields of Ohio State and Alabama star Mac Jones are also in the mix.

Of the four candidates to land with San Francisco, who is the best fit for the 49ers and Kyle Shanahan’s offense? Here we rank the quartet in play to assume the mantle from Garoppolo and take the helm of one of the most talented offenses in the NFL.