Back in 2021, the Niners packaged three first-round picks and a third-round pick to the Miami Dolphins to move up to the third pick in the draft. They would ultimately pick Trey Lance who was supposed to be the immediate successor to Jimmy Garoppolo. Besides a few spot starts when Garoppolo got injured, Lance didn’t see much of the field during his rookie season.
However, he would be handed the starting job during his second season. Unfortunately, he would suffer a season-ending ankle injury in just the second game of the season, allowing Garoppolo another chance to start.
Then, at the start of December as San Francisco was preparing for their playoff push, Garoppolo would be ruled out for the rest of the season with a broken foot.
This allowed fan favorite Brock Purdy to start, and he never looked back from there. Purdy would throw 13 touchdowns to just four interceptions in the final six regular season games, leading the 49ers to their third NFC championship game in four seasons.
This caused a little controversy in the quarterback room as the Niners now had three quarterbacks that could be starters.
The Plan Moving Forward
The 49ers decision was made a little easier when Garoppolo decided to sign a free-agent deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. Now, all indications out of San Francisco point to Purdy being the starter.
This would be a straightforward move, but he tore his UCL in the NFC championship game, an injury that will sideline him until the start of the 2023 season at best. If Purdy has a setback, this means the Niners will have to choose between Lance and free agent signing Sam Darnold.
Lance would likely be the starter, but what if he performs too well? He is a former number three pick, so he at least deserves a chance to start. Where would San Francisco after that? After Purdy gets fully healthy surely, he will want his job back and rightfully so.
He earned the love and respect of the locker room last season after Garoppolo went down with his injury. This would cause a major split in the locker room, leaving the Niners in a less-than-ideal predicament.
Where to go From Here?
One thing is for certain and that is that Purdy will start again for the Niners at some point this season. If Lance plays great in his place, both quarterbacks are going to want that job. It would be in San Francisco's best interest to trade Lance to a team where he has a chance to play.
He was a former number three pick and there’s no way that he wants to be stuck behind Mr. Irrelevant for his entire career. His career in San Francisco has been a rollercoaster, so the Niners would be wise to unload Lance before he wants to be let off the rollercoaster and starts causing a scene in-house and publicly.
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