Getty Image / Thearon W. Henderson
One of the hot topics of the offseason is the quarterback situation for the San Francisco 49ers.
Many still believe Trey Lance can be a franchise quarterback. Meanwhile, plenty of reports suggest Brock Purdy is the guy.
Additionally, Sam Darnold makes things a bit murky, as he could be a backup or starter depending on how the current injuries play out.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan went into depth when discussing the QB situation in San Francisco. However, his comments left people asking questions.
According to David Lombardi, Shanahan seems more than confident that Brock Purdy will be back by training camp.
49ers thread with key Kyle Shanahan quotes from Dwight Clark Legacy Series event…
On Brock Purdy's return:
"As long as Brock’s elbow heals right, he’ll be the exact same guy… He’s doing the same drills all the other quarterbacks are doing, he’s just using a towel to throw.…
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) May 11, 2023
After that, the 49ers head coach was asked how the team feels about Trey Lance.
More Shanahan on Lance/Purdy: "I believe Trey would’ve gotten to a level where he would’ve done similar stuff. He missed that opp and Brock came in and did. I truly think Trey can go in and do that, but Brock’s already done it and that’s a very good thing for us to have."
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) May 11, 2023
His answer has many convinced that Purdy is the starting quarterback once he’s healthy.
Oh nah Trey is toast. Might as well trade him at this point https://t.co/RqfYVavNKz
— 🫡 Jake (@JockOfAllTrades) May 11, 2023
It seems pretty clear, doesn’t it?
Yeah he's literally telling us purdy is the guy lol https://t.co/HunaGyKoh1
— Vengeance. (@BJacks70) May 11, 2023
Now, that’s all fine and dandy. But the 49ers also signed Sam Darnold this offseason. And apparently, Shanahan loves him.
In fact, he makes a rather bold statement that doesn’t quite matchup with what fans have seen from Darnold over the years.
Shanahan: “I truly see Sam talent-wise as a top pick in the draft, just like he was. You watch his whole career and there’s no reason to think differently. He hasn’t been in the best situations, so we’re glad to have him here. And I’m so glad he wanted to come here. He could’ve…
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) May 11, 2023
With that said, Shanahan believes the 49ers QB situation is in a great position. Especially considering he claims, “I do believe we have three quarterbacks talent-wise who are all capable of being franchise-like quarterbacks.”
Shanahan, in summary: "I do believe we have three quarterbacks talent-wise who are all capable of being franchise-like quarterbacks. But that’s just capable … Brock’s done that in his eight. And we have two other guys on our roster who we strongly believe can do that also."
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) May 11, 2023
Yeah. So who really knows what’s going on in San Francisco?
Based on the statements he’s made, along with the reports regarding the 49ers QB situation, perhaps Brock Purdy is the guy moving forward.
If that’s the case, then what happens with Trey Lance? San Francisco reportedly received calls about Lance’s availability via trade. But nothing has come to fruition.
On top of that, Sam Darnold is probably being viewed as a solid option if both Purdy and Lance are a no-go at the beginning of the 2023 season.
We won’t really know though until it gets closer to training camp. With that said, keep a watchful eye on this organization, as the 49ers will monitor their quarterbacks closely.