SANTA CLARA — Not only does Joe Montana like what he sees in 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Montana also thinks Fresno State's Derek Carr could have a bright future once he's drafted, presumably Friday.

Montana, speaking on KNBR 680-AM, also weighed in on the uncertainty that comes with first-round selections Johnny Manziel (taken 22nd by the Cleveland Browns) and Blake Bortles (drafted third by the Jacksonville Jaguars).

When it comes to scouting quarterbacks, not even his Hall of Fame status had Montana feeling like an authority.

"If it was a proven method you can point at and say this guy is going to make it," Montana said, "but there's so many busts in the first round, and all the way through the draft, and there's success stories at the bottom of the draft."

Montana was speaking to promote a July 12 flag football game at Candlestick Park between former 49ers and other NFL legends. Health-wise, Montana said he is facing neck surgery, and recently tore knee cartilage and separated shoulder in a snowboarding accident (in Montana, the state).

Here are other quarterback-centric thoughts Montana shared:

  • On Kaepernick, and whether Montana's goal for him is to become a better pocket passer:


    "No, and I talked to Colin about this: when somebody asked me a question, 'If there was an area that he would have to improve in ... ', I'd say only in the pocket, because he didn't grow up in the pocket. He's from the read-option. That would be like asking me to run the read option. Or even say someone like Steve Young, who was a pocket guy but could still run. Could he get it done? Yeah. Would he get better at it? Probably. Just saying that with Colin, I think Colin is an excellent quarterback. But they didn't print all of that stuff. They just printed the first part. I had this conversation with Colin. He's an excellent player. His future is ahead of him. I think there's great things to come, not only for him but the 49ers, and I'm looking forward to watching him."

  • On Manziel, Bortles and Teddy Bridgewater going in the first round: "I don't think there were as many quarterback taken as people thought. The guy I think is a sleeper is Derek Carr. I'm not sure why he didn't sneak up in there, but I think he'll be a surprise. He does all the right things. He's mobile, yet he's a pocket guy. He throws the ball with touch. He has a strong enough arm to make all the throws. I don't know, just by appeal in looking at a quarterback, he has all the stuff you like to see."

  • On Manziel, the Texas A&M star: "You never know. Even when I talk about Derek. You don't know who's going to make the transition. The type of player he is, you've got to be a little bit careful here in the NFL. They always say those guys you're playing against, they're bigger and faster and can't wait for you to get outside of the pocket, because you're not protected. It's really hard. He is a play maker and that's the tough thing about him. It's hard to discount him. It's not like he just made a few plays. He made plays all the time. We'll see how he does. I think he's got a good chance. His size, that was disproven last year that size isn't as big as people think, by the guy (Russell Wilson) that won the Super Bowl."

  • On Bortles, the University of Central Florida product: "I think a lot of it is just what people feel about him. He's got obviously what they're looking for in today's quarterback: big, strong in size. He's got a strong arm. He's a big kid. I don't know, sometimes they pick on the physical attributes rather than if he can play the game, which I think he can. I just don't know. If it was a proven method you can point at and say this guy is going to make it, but there's so many busts in the first round and all the way through the draft, and success stories at the bottom of the draft. They don't really have a system in place that makes sense."