SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers made a significant investment when they traded three first-round picks to draft Trey Lance. However, the team quickly cut ties with the highly drafted quarterback, trading him away before the start of his third season.
Coach Kyle Shanahan admitted that the decision to trade Lance didn’t work out, but he refrained from labeling it as a failure. The 49ers took a gamble on Lance and hoped he would become their franchise quarterback, but it wasn’t meant to be.
The trade for Lance cost the 49ers a 2021 first-round pick, as well as first-round picks in 2022 and 2023. They gave him a contract worth around $28 million, but he only made four starts in two seasons before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys for a fourth-round pick.
Despite little contribution from Lance, the 49ers managed to reach the NFC title game the past two seasons. They are currently considered one of the top contenders to win the Super Bowl this season thanks to their overall talent and the emergence of starting quarterback Brock Purdy, who was drafted as the final pick in the 2022 draft.
General manager John Lynch acknowledged that investing so much in a player can be challenging to recover from, but he believes the team has managed to improve despite the setback. He emphasized the importance of Purdy continuing to perform at a high level.
The decision to draft Lance came with a cost. The 49ers could have drafted a key contributor with their 2021 No. 12 pick, such as All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, which might have given them a better chance to win the NFC title game that season.
Having late first-round picks the past two years could have strengthened the team’s roster even further and increased their chances of winning the Super Bowl. But Shanahan acknowledged that taking a chance on Lance was a calculated risk, and injuries and unforeseen circumstances played a role in his limited playing time.
Despite the disappointing outcome, Shanahan still believes that Lance has the potential to become a successful player in the NFL. However, it won’t be with the 49ers.
Lance’s lack of experience was a factor in his development, as he had only started 17 games at the FCS level in college. He spent his rookie season as a backup to Jimmy Garoppolo, and his second season was cut short by an ankle injury.
Now, Purdy has taken over as the starting quarterback for the 49ers, while Lance looks to make an impact with the Dallas Cowboys. Only time will tell if the team made the right decision in parting ways with Lance.
In conclusion, the San Francisco 49ers took a risk by trading multiple first-round picks to draft Trey Lance, but it ultimately didn’t work out. However, the team has remained competitive and has high odds of winning the Super Bowl this season. The 49ers’ decision to cut ties with Lance was a calculated move, and they are moving forward with confidence in their current quarterback. While the outcome is disappointing, the story of Trey Lance’s career is far from over, and he still has the potential to become a successful player in the NFL.
