The draft is only about 2 months away and thus begins our coverage of this draft by position. Over the next few weeks the 49ersnews.com staff will take a look at all the positions in the draft, and try to evaluate how that position pertains to the 49ers if any.

So let’s start with the Quarterbacks. Who are the best QBs available in the NFL draft this year, which one do you think has the best chance to succeed, and do the 49ers have any interest in this position? Three staff writers, Erik Klackner, Vini Chopra, and Jeremy Burnham answer that question.

Erik Klackner
If the 49ers take a QB before round 6, I’d be extremely shocked. A guy like Ingle Martin might be worth a look late for no discernible reason other than it’s always nice to have options.

As for the QBs in this draft, I personally don’t like any of them. Jay Cutler seems like a gamer, but I just don’t know if he has the necessary acumen to be a highly successful Q. Matt Leinart is going to be a major bust IMO. I don’t think he has any measurables at all. His arm strength is weak, his footwork is average, his speed is poor. He has good mental attributes, but I just don’t think it’s enough. Vince Young is a big-time boom or bust prospect. He could be the next in line in the dangerous, mobile, playmaking QBs, from Randall Cunningham and Steve Young to Steve McNair, Daunte Culpepper, and Donovan McNabb. He might also be a WR. He impressed the hell out of me in the Rose Bowl, but I still have extreme reservations about him.

Brodie Croyle is probably my favorite QB in this draft, but that’s not saying much. He has physical gifts, leadership, guts, and he played in the SEC, which always helps. I think some team in going to have a keeper if they land him in round 2, which is where he stands to go at this point.

As for guys like Omar Jacobs, DJ Shockley, Reggie McNeal, Charlie Whitehurst, and the rest of them…yawn

Vini Chopra
I disagree with the notion of not liking any of the top 3 QBs in this draft. I think that Leinart, Young, and Cutler are three very solid prospects, all worthy of some kind of recognition. While I don’t expect Leinart to be the kind of QB Carson Palmer has become, I see him as a more productive Chad Pennington of sorts. Vince Young is the wildcard. He has the potential be to be very good, and he demonstrated that extra "it" quality by almost single handedly defeating the Trojans. But his mechanics and accuracy leave something to be desired and he’ll have to have a great mentor at the NFL level or become just another Michael Vick, without the speed. I like the prospects of Jay Cutler the most. He has a big time arm and while he’s not a sound QB yet, if he goes to a team like the Titans who have a guy like McNair who can hold the reins for 1 or 2 more years, Cutler could develop into a Favre/Aikman type.

Other than those 3, the rest of the QBs in this draft take a dramatic drop in terms of value and quality. Brodie Croyle is probably the best of the rest but there is a huge void between him and the elite 3 prospects. I agree with Erick that the QBs like DJ Shockeley, Reggie McNeal, and everyone else fail to register even a blip on my radar. Some of them may develop or become backup projects. But there is not a whole lot of depth at the QB position this year.

As for the 49ers, this is a position where I’d be surprised if the 49ers show any interest. The 49ers already chose their QB of the future in Alex Smith. The last thing they need is another rookie. While the 49ers will probably seek to add another QB (our backup is currently Duckman, errr Ken Dorsey) this offseason, they’ll want someone with vetran experience. Not to mention, it’s highly unrealistic that the 49ers will spend a 2nd or 3rd round pick on a Brodie Croyle with so many other needs. So unless it’s a late day 2 choice, I don’t expect much action towards the 49ers drafting a QB in this draft.

Jeremy Burnham
While there ARE some good QBs out there this year, There is no way the 49ers are going tgo go after one of them early. We are paying Alex Smith too much to look at another early QB pick. It’s a shame really, as I don’t like Smith, but it’s a fact. As for going after one in the late rounds, The Vin said it best! THE LAST THING WE NEED IS ANOTHER ROOKIE…

But if I had to name a top QB in the draft, I would have to go with Young. I agree that he is a wild card, and could go either way. But the best he could turn out is way better than the best Leinart could turn out. And, while I admit this is a guess, I really think Leinart is going to bust, and Young is going to make it. But, this is why the Draft is just a crap-shoot. You never can tell…