It’s official: The San Francisco 49ers made one of the worst trades in NFL history to get quarterback Trey Lance in the 2021 draft.
On Wednesday, the NFL Network learned that the California club picked Sam Darnold as their No. 2 pick behind Brock Purdy. This therefore relegates Lance to role number 3. It also appears that in his case, the “Niners” would consider all options, including his release.
Weeks before the 2021 auction, the 49ers traded three first-round picks to the Miami Dolphins for the third round. They used this to select North Dakota State’s product.
Since then, Lance has been nothing more than a disappointment. He had two starts in his freshman season, working primarily as second fiddler behind Jimmy Garoppolo. The following year, he was selected as a starter before the start of the season, but suffered an ankle injury that ended his season after just two games.
Lance has played eight games in the NFL, four of them as a starter. He completed 54.9% of his attempted passes for 797 yards and five touchdowns. In addition, he was intercepted three times. The 23-year-old also had 235 yards and a major on 54 carries.
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Darnold — who is also a third pick overall but in the 2018 draft — joined the 49ers as a free agent in the spring. He signed a one-year deal worth $4.5 million. The redhead previously wore the colors of the New York Jets and the Carolina Panthers.
His arrival in San Francisco was meant to be insurance for Purdy’s elbow injury sustained in the final playoffs. However, the No. 1 of the ‘Niners’ has made a full recovery and will be in his position for the start of the 2023 season.
Remember that last year Prudy came out of nowhere. After injuries to Lance and Garoppolo, the very last pick of the 2022 draft was put into play in the 13th business week. He then went on to win eight straight games until the Philadelphia Eagles ended his National Conference Finals tale.