The San Francisco 49ers traded significant draft assets to move up to draft quarterback Trey Lance third overall in 2021.
In two professional seasons, Lance hasn’t provided much return on investment. He appeared in six games and started two as a rookie, and after earning the starting job last year, his 2022 season ended after two weeks due to an ankle injury.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan even said on Tuesday that it will be “harder” for Lance to win the starting job this season. Still, 49ers CEO Jed York doesn’t trading up to land the young passer two years ago.
York spoke with reporters at the league meetings yesterday and expressed his confidence in Lance.
“I wouldn’t change anything that we’ve made about the decision with Trey,” York said, via 49ers WebZone. “I think Trey has a chance to be great, but it’s a bonus when you get somebody at the end of the seventh round that ends up coming in and being very impactful for your team.
“I’ve said it multiple times with quarterbacks, whether it was Alex [Smith] and [Colin Kaepernick], watching Jimmy [Garoppolo], and Jimmy and Trey, and now Brock and Trey and Sam [Darnold], you can’t have enough good quarterbacks.
Shanahan announced this week that Lance and veteran free agent signing Sam Darnold will split starter’s reps this offseason as Brock Purdy recovers from elbow surgery.
Whether Lance can become QB1 to start the season or not, he needs to be ready. San Francisco has a bad track record of QB injuries, so odds are at least two different men will start games at the position for them in 2023.