The Miami Dolphins will trade the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft for the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for the No. 12 overall pick, a third round pick in 2022, a first round pick in 2022, and a first round. round harvest in 2023, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter
After that deal was completed, the Philadelphia Eagles and Dolphins agreed to an exchange that returned the Dolphins to sixth place overall with the Eagles, according to SchefterThe Eagles will go back to No. 12 overall and will acquire Miami’s first round by 2022. The Eagles are also relinquishing # 156, earning Miami’s pick at # 123 overall.
The 49ers will presumably take a quarterback with the newly acquired pick. Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is the all-time favorite, ranked No. 1 by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The New York Jets are generally No. 2 and may also be in the mix for a quarterback. BYU’s Zach Wilson, Ohio State’s Justin Fields, North Dakota State’s Trey Lance and Alabama’s Mac Jones are the other contenders for the first round. General manager John Lynch was present on Friday for Wilson’s pro day.
Going to No. 3 overall, the NFC West franchise is essentially saying they are comfortable with at least three quarterbacks in this draft class because there is a very reasonable chance that quarterbacks will be taken with the first two general choices. The situation is reminiscent of 2018, when New York traded to third place overall a month before the draft. They knew Cleveland would take a quarterback at No. 1 overall and the door was clearly open for the Giants to do anything at No. 2 overall. The Jets ended up using that roster over USC quarterback Sam Darnold.
The odds of a quarterback being taken on any of the first three choices are very good. The run could go even further, with Atlanta possibly in the mix at number 4 overall. Carolina, New England, Denver and Philadelphia stand out as other teams that could be in the market for help with the position.
The # 102 overall pick won in the deal was a compensatory pick awarded to San Francisco as part of the system that rewards franchises when a minority front office or head coach candidate is hired.
Jimmy Garoppolo has been the 49ers’ quarterback since he was acquired in October 2017 in a trade from the Patriots. Garoppolo has missed 23 regular season games in the past three years. He has been the subject of off-season trade speculation and a deal is sure to follow now that the team has secured a trade.
The 2021 NFL Draft will be held in Cleveland on April 29.