Getty Image / Loren Elliott
After a long offseason wondering what the San Francisco 49ers will do at quarterback, the coaching staff has officially named Sam Darnold as the backup.
So, it’ll be Brock Purdy as the starter while Darnold serves as the No. 2 option. For that reason, Trey Lance’s future in San Francisco is now in doubt.
According to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the 49ers are “exploring options with Trey Lance,” after naming Sam Darnold the backup quarterback.
The #49ers are naming Sam Darnold their No. 2 quarterback and the team is exploring options with Trey Lance, sources tell me and @RapSheet.
Darnold will back up Brock Purdy, while the future of Lance — the No. 3 overall pick in 2021 — is unclear. pic.twitter.com/HxXQkfM6nq
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 23, 2023
As a result, the front office has multiple options on the table for Lance. One resolution could be to trade the former No. 3 pick overall, per Pelissero.
Trey Lance has had a good camp and preseason, showing growth in his game. But Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold are atop the depth chat for a #49ers team that should be a contender, and trading Lance is one possible solution. https://t.co/NaForQTzqn
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 23, 2023
It’s unclear what kind of market is out there for Lance at this point. He’s only started in four regular season games in his NFL career. Additionally, he doesn’t have much experience from his days in college either.
Making him a huge question mark as a quarterback prospect.
Lance came into the league as a well-known project. Many believed he had the talent to become a superstar for the 49ers. Instead, after failing to meet expectations, San Francisco appears ready to move on.
Trey Lance would greatly benefit from playing for a franchise that has the time to give him the reps he needs to prove himself. However, as of right now, it’s hard to imagine any team taking that chance.
Especially considering the 2024 NFL Draft class is loaded with quarterback talent. It’s possible some teams would rather stick with what they have and see how the season plays out.
And if they end up being one of the worst teams in the league, then they’ll have a shot at potentially drafting Caleb Williams or Drake Maye. So, why trade for Lance if you’re in the running for those two quarterback prospects?
With that said, Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold are in, while Trey Lance is out as the 49ers aim to make another Super Bowl run.