Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers. (Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports)
Trey Lance is already turning heads with his play at San Francisco 49ers training camp.
The San Francisco 49ers traded up to No. 3 in the 2021 NFL Draft to take Trey Lance out of North Dakota State for a reason.
While he essentially only had one year’s worth of starts for the FCS powerhouse, Lance offered perhaps the greatest upside of any signal-caller taken in the first round of last spring’s draft. Though he will probably be backing up Jimmy Garoppolo at least initially this season, Lance is already doing things in 49ers camp that could have him pushing for the starting quarterback job.
How soon before we see Lance leading the 49ers out of the Santa Clara tunnel on NFL Sundays?
San Francisco 49ers QB Trey Lance is already turning heads during training camp
Given how complex head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offensive system is, it would be shocking to see Lance start Week 1 for the 49ers this year. However, if the often-injured Garoppolo cannot stay on the field, Lance will take over for him and will not relinquish the starting job. Lance should be a better version of fellow Bison Carson Wentz, perhaps some variation of Josh Allen at the NFL level.
No, Shanahan and the 49ers brass should not force Lance out there before he is ready. Keep in mind that Patrick Mahomes spent nearly the entire 2017 season backing up Alex Smith with the Kansas City Chiefs. That is not to say Lance will be the NFC’s version of Mahomes, but his intriguing upside is what got him drafted inside of the top five. It will be his time before too long.
Lance may not overtake Garoppolo right now, but he is certainly closing the gap at training camp.