“The Trey Lance Dilemma: How Will San Francisco’s Quarterback Saga Unfold?”
So, it’s been less than a year since Trey Lance stepped into the quarterback spotlight in San Francisco. But now, there’s some chatter about Trey Lance possibly being on the outside. Yeah, that’s right. After his struggles against Sam Darnold for the backup quarterback spot, it seems like the future with the 49ers is a bit up in the air for Trey Lance.
You remember that big moment in the 2021 NFL draft when the 49ers snagged him at number 3? Well, that journey might be wrapping up, but hey, there’s also a chance he could be traded before the season kicks off. John Lynch, the man in charge, was asked about Lance’s fate during a chat with KNBR, and you know, while GMs aren’t always the most predictable folks, Lynch seemed to spill some tea about what might go down with Lance.
Trey Lance said, “Well, most likely, he’s gonna start the season here with us in San Francisco.” Yep, that’s right, Lynch thinks it’s the most probable scenario. We’re quite delighted with Trey Lance, he even added. So, yes, it appears like he will be present.
But hold on, there’s a flip side too. Lynch also made it clear that if the stars align and there’s a deal that makes sense for everyone, they’re open to working something out with the 23-year-old. He shared, “If we find a spot that’s good for him and fits well for our team, we won’t be stubborn about it.” He continued, “But right now, our focus isn’t on that. We’re all about getting Trey Lance back here and building the best football squad we can.”
And guess what? Coach Kyle Shanahan echoed that sentiment. When asked about a potential trade involving Lance, Shanahan said, “We’ll always do what’s best for Trey Lance. If there’s a better situation for him and he’s into it, we’re not gonna hold him back.”
So, it looks like there’s a whole lot of behind-the-scenes action involving Lance and the 49ers. Maybe, just maybe, it’s because Trey Lance himself asked for it. There’s a rumor floating around that after his demotion on Wednesday, he might have put in a request for a trade. When Lynch was straight up asked about it, he kind of dodged the question, like he’s been doing for a while now.
Lynch said, “Well, as I said, Trey’s Lance back in the building,” adding, “We’re still working, finishing up camp. Trey understands that, we understand that.”
He said, “Nah, that’s not accurate,” about The Athletic’s report. And then he added, “If I responded to every report out there, I wouldn’t have time for anything else. But this one’s just not true.”
Now, let’s be real. We don’t have official confirmation that Trey Lance formally asked for a trade. What we do know is that the 49ers let him skip practice on Wednesday to process the news of his demotion. According to Lynch, he handled it like a champ. Lynch said, “Trey’s handling it really well. He was obviously disappointed, as he should be. When you put your heart and soul into something and it doesn’t pan out, it hurts. But we’re in a good place, he’s back in the building, and we’re moving forward.”
There’s definitely a lot of moving parts when it comes to the 49ers and their plans for Trey Lance. And here’s a thought: maybe the door’s open because Trey Lance wanted it that way. We’re hearing that he might have asked for a trade after his demotion. But Lynch, well, he’s playing it cool and not confirming anything just yet.
So, what’s the timeline for all this? The 49ers have until Tuesday, 4 p.m. PT, to trim their roster down to 53 players. Currently, they’ve got four quarterbacks on the roster – Trey Lance, Darnold, Rutter, and Allen. But come Tuesday, one of those guys has to go, ’cause you can’t have four QBs in your lineup.
And as Lynch mentioned, if the 49ers get a solid offer for Lance, they’re ready to strike a deal. So, the next few days are going to be pretty interesting. On the other hand, if no trade partners come knocking, Lance might be staying put for a while. The thing is, if the 49ers release him, they’ll owe him a whopping $14.6 million injury payout. That’s a chunk of change the team might not be willing to part with just for a third-string quarterback.
But remember, even if Lance starts the season with the 49ers, it doesn’t mean he’ll end it there. The team could keep him for a bit and then try to trade him before the October 31 deadline. That might be a smart move, especially if another team suddenly finds themselves in need of a quarterback due to injury. It’s a waiting game.
So, whether Trey Lance continues his journey with the 49ers or takes his talents elsewhere, one thing’s for sure – the NFL never fails to keep us on our toes