Private quarterbacks coach John Beck has worked this offseason with both Justin Fields of Ohio State and Trey Lance of North Dakota State, helping each draft prospect prepare for his pro-day workout in front of NFL teams. Both will hear their names called next week, and their NFL journeys will officially begin.
Fields and Lance, along with Mac Jones of Alabama, are among the top candidates to be drafted at No. 3 overall by the San Francisco 49ers. The team traded up to the spot on March 26, seeking a quarterback of the future.
Beck, who played for then-offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan in Washinton, remains close with the 49ers head coach. San Francisco recommended Lance work with the private coach ahead of his second pro day and even provided Beck with a list of things they wanted to see from the former Bison quarterback. Obviously, Beck's input could have a significant impact on the Niners' evaluation process.
Beck joined The Football GM podcast this week (h/t to Patrick Tulini), speaking with Mike Sando and Randy Mueller, and shared what excites him about the quarterbacks he has worked with.
"When Justin Fields walks out on the field, he carries himself in a way (that) you know he's played for Ohio State University," Beck shared. "You know he's been the dude there for two years. You know he's played in a National Championship. You know he's eyeing Super Bowls. You can tell, in his level of focus, when he steps out on the field, he stepped out every day to prove he was the best one on the field.
"I'll just say it for what it was. There wasn't a day that went by where he wasn't trying to be the best one on the field, and that excites me because that's the type of attitude you have."
Then you have Lance, who has just 17 collegiate starts on his resume. That may not be a lot of experience, but Beck can envision an NFL team being very happy with the prospect.
"I have had a chance to work with Trey the last few weeks. It's been great," Beck said. "He has shown me so many things that [are] going to show to me and prove to me that somebody is going to be really happy with who they get. He's very athletic, very smart. You put him on the board, you watch tape with him, you can tell the football he was playing at North Dakota is going to prepare him well for the scheme he's going to have in the NFL."
Maybe Beck already has a specific scheme in mind. Maybe that scheme is one used by a certain Bay Area team.
Beck hasn't worked with Jones, but that doesn't mean he lacks an opinion regarding the former Crimson Tide quarterback.
"I've loved watching Mac Jones on tape this year," he said. "I think he's super talented. ... I've watched his Florida game. I've watched his National Championship Game. I've watched each of those a number of times, and I'm so impressed with him as a player."
The Football GM Podcast welcomes 2021 #NFL draft QB coach John Beck for thoughts on Justin Fields, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, etc, plus insights from his own career with the GM who drafted him, @RandyMueller_
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