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2018 NFL Mock Draft: 49ers get their franchise quarterback

By Brad Weiss

TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 7: Safety Derwin James #3 of the Florida State Seminoles during the game against the Miami Hurricanes at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on October 7, 2017 in Tallahassee, Florida. Miami defeated Florida State 24 to 20. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 7: Safety Derwin James #3 of the Florida State Seminoles during the game against the Miami Hurricanes at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on October 7, 2017 in Tallahassee, Florida. Miami defeated Florida State 24 to 20. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 14: Quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans passes the ball in the first half of the game against the Utah Utes at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 14, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 14: Quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans passes the ball in the first half of the game against the Utah Utes at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 14, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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Sam Darnold

Quarterback, USC

Prior to the 2017 NFL season, the San Francisco 49ers made the move to bring in Kyle Shanahan as their new head coach. Shanahan is incredible at working with quarterbacks, and that is certainly the direction they should go with their first-round pick in 2018. The best quarterback in this draft class is Sam Darnold of USC, and he should definitely be the first signal-caller off the board in April.

For the 49ers, the Brian Hoyer experience at quarterback has already come to an end, as they will road with C.J. Beathard under center for the foreseeable future. Beathard was the team’s third-round pick out of Iowa this past draft and should be able to provide a boost. He nearly led the team to Shanahan’s first win in relief last weekend, so his play will be something to keep an eye on the rest of the way.

The best case scenario is Beathard proves he can be a solid backup in the NFL behind Darnold. The 49ers may even play Beathard to start the season in 2018, giving whoever they select in the first round some more time to get used to the NFL game. Darnold has all the tools to be a good one at the NFL level, and the 49ers are desperately seeking their next franchise quarterback.

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