Trey Lance Is Reportedly A Trade Target For Multiple Teams, And The 49ers Seem Open To Dealing Him
The San Francisco 49ers have gotten a grand total of four starts out of Trey Lance since dealing away multiple first-round picks to acquire him with the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. On the heels of Brock Purdy's breakout performance as a rookie, even as he recovers from a severe elbow injury, Lance's future in the Bay Area is very much in question.
As a Lance defender entering last season, I've always been interested to see what he can do. Thing is, you have to actually play football to further your development. Lance was only a one-year starter at North Dakota State and only played one game in 2020 due to COVID. Purdy's rise to prominence makes Lance expendable.
Although Purdy is still on the road to recovery and may not be ready for the start of the season, the 49ers did go out and sign another ex-No. 3 overall pick in Sam Darnold. Could I interest you in a scorching-hot take from Jordan Palmer, who's worked with Sammy D personally?
Well DAMN. Maybe Palmer is on to something. San Francisco's roster is stacked. Darnold has never had anyone close to Kyle Shanahan's caliber as a play-caller at any point in his football life. There's reason to believe his best is yet to come under someone like Shanahan, with the likes of Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey to throw to.
Darnold felt like a "luxury" signing when he joined the Niners. This clunky Lance leak makes it seem more logical. The inside information could've only come from San Francisco's brass. To make it that clear that they're not making the calls, only fielding them, but still leaking the trade interest anyway? LOL. Even during the silly season of the NFL Draft, GMs take the podium every single year and say shit like, "We're open to listening" or "we're working through all scenarios" or "you get so many calls about so many players all the time".
...And yet this is one of those that leaks.
Perhaps with the uncertainty around the 2023 draft's quarterback class and the lack of ROI from Lance to date, the Niners figure they can goad someone into giving up a Day 2 pick. The Houston Texans seem like a prime landing spot. Their new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik is from the Shanahan tree, and obviously DeMeco Ryans is their head coach. Slowik and Ryans have known Lance from the moment he stepped into the league. Multiple reports suggest Houston is strongly considering passing on a QB with the second pick.
Most of the buzz points to Bryce Young going to Carolina at No. 1. The Texans can really flip this draft upside down by drafting their favorite defensive player with the next selection. To be clear, Houston as a Lance destination is pure speculation on my part. Who knows? Maybe Slowik and Ryans think highly enough of him to give up, say, a third-rounder. It'd be up to GM Nick Caserio to pull the trigger. I've already given my thoughts on what I'd do in his shoes.
Lance could represent a sort of hedge play for the Texans. They wouldn't have to potentially reach for a QB they're not sold on in the first round. If Trey works out, great, you've got your guy. If not, Ryans and Slowik aren't getting fired after 2023. They have some runway. Houston could find its new QB in the 2024 draft.
On the other hand, I like Anthony Richardson and C.J. Stroud way more as prospects than I liked Lance coming out — and that's before his first two NFL seasons played out the way they have. Caserio should be in self-preservation mode, because in the event the Texans don't take a huge step forward this year, he's likely getting fired.
What about the Titans? Their new GM is Ran Carthon, a former 49ers executive who definitely had a hand in bringing Lance to San Francisco. Tennessee could move up from the 11th pick to draft a QB this year, yet that'd be a pricey maneuver. For all his faults and lack of experience, Lance seems like a superior eventual Ryan Tannehill replacement than Malik Willis at this juncture.
Since he's originally from Minnesota, it'd be neat to see Lance land with the Vikings and get a crack at being Kirk Cousins' successor. Otherwise, I struggle to come up with potential suitors for Lance. Even entering his third year as a pro, he's as much of a wild card as the day he was drafted.