Whispers about the San Francisco 49ers making 2021 first-round draft pick Trey Lance available this spring aren’t quieting down.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz of The Score has reported that an unnamed league general manager “who’s not in the market for a” quarterback said that 49ers general manager John Lynch taking trade calls regarding Lance “was probably the worst kept secret since” the scouting combine was held in Indianapolis earlier this winter.
“I know they’ve listened,” that anonymous executive continued. “Lance is still young and on a rookie deal. He’s pretty talented.”
The general manager also pointed out that free-agency signing Sam Darnold “has tons of incentives in his deal” and that 2022 rookie Brock Purdy is still recovering from surgery to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
“I think it would take a pretty strong offer to get Lance,” the GM added.
Just like last year when questions about “arm fatigue” hovered over Lance throughout springtime and summer workouts, it’s impossible to ignore that something is happening behind the scenes as it pertains to the 22-year-old’s relationship with the 49ers. Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is on track to hit free agency after the 2023 season, was linked with San Francisco earlier this month, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Wednesday that the 49ers “have fielded calls” about Lance’s availability.
Since Rapoport’s initial story, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio has reported that the Vikings and 49ers “talked about” Lance during the combine. Rapoport has mentioned on NFL Network that he “wouldn’t be surprised if, at some point over the next few months—probably not imminently, but the next few months—someone ended up giving the 49ers enough to trade for Trey Lance because someone, no doubt, would still believe that he could be the franchise guy that he probably won’t be for the Niners.”
Lynch seemingly wants a healthy and fully-recovered Purdy to be his starter, and Florio wrote Wednesday that “it’s now obvious that the 49ers are looking to move on” from Lance. Rapoport’s updated timeline suggests a trade could happen before training camp similar to how the Carolina Panthers acquired Baker Mayfield from the Cleveland Browns last July.
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