The Leading Authority of the NFL Draft

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat writes that one of the primary reasons the 49ers acquired Carolina's 2010 first-round pick was to get in "ideal position" should they be in the market for a quarterback. According to Greg Rosenthal of NBCSports.com, the quarterback battle between Shaun Hill and Alex Smith is shaping up to be closer than most imagined. 49ers coach Mike Singletary acknowledged how tight the situation is Tuesday, saying he would "hopefully" make a decision by the third preseason game.The third exhibition contest is used as a dress rehearsal for the regular season, so the starter against Dallas on August 29 will likely be the Week One starter against the Cardinals.
 

Mancini’s Take: I think it’s pretty evident that the 49ers aren’t satisfied with their quarterback situation especially when you consider the fact that San Francisco was going hard for Kurt Warner in the offseason. Assessing the team’s quarterbacks in 2009, however, I still find it hard to believe that Shaun Hill won’t be the starter on Sept. 13. The team is 7-3 with Hill at the helm over the past two seasons. The unheralded signal caller may not be the second coming of John Elway, who carries a franchise on his shoulders, but he’s a smart player who’s accurate and makes quick decisions. Smith has a lot to prove before he can convince me that he should get the starting nod.

Mandel's Take: Hill is all of those things, Rev, but he's not a franchise quarterback. The 49ers are slowly putting the pieces together, but they realize the biggest piece is that big-time signal caller and that the 2010 Draft is going to have at least four pretty good prospects at the position. Between Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow, and Jevon Snead, San Francisco will indeed be in a position to select a potential franchise guy. There are, of course, no guarantees and sometimes the best-laid plans fizzle out like Ryan Leaf...but the Niners are apparently planning ahead and that's the first step.
 

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