The 49ers have reportedly fielded trade inquiries from teams interested in third-year quarterback Trey Lance.
The No. 3 overall player taken in the 2021 NFL Draft, Lance has not provided nearly the return on investment San Francisco would have hoped for after its blockbuster deal with the Dolphins to move up and grab him. After playing sparingly as a rookie, Lance began the 2022 season as a starter, but was lost for the year in just the second game after suffering an ankle injury against the Seahawks.
As noted by Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, no trade is imminent and San Francisco isn't making calls to determine whether teams are interested in Lance. The 49ers are, however, accepting calls from interested teams, who reportedly have the understanding that former Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy will be the starter moving forward.
While no trade is imminent, and the #49ers would almost certainly want to make sure Brock Purdy's rehab continues to go as smoothly as it's been going, the interest from other teams in Lance has been there. https://t.co/H29UL0iecw
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 19, 2023
MORE: Brock Purdy 'leader in the clubhouse' to be 49ers' starting QB
Indeed, San Francisco will want to make sure it has plenty of options at quarterback with Jimmy Garoppolo gone and Purdy still rehabbing from the injury to his throwing elbow. The 49ers added Sam Darnold in free agency to displace Garoppolo's exit via free agency, but as the team discovered in 2022, you can never have enough quarterbacks.
But Lance — considered more of a high-ceiling project than a polished prospect coming out of college — has played in just eight games, starting four, in two seasons. He has completed 56 of 102 passes (54.9 percent) for 797 yards and five touchdowns to three interceptions, adding 54 rushes for 235 yards and another TD.
His limited tape in the NFL makes him something of an unknown, but he is a young quarterback still on his rookie deal who would certainly represent an upgrade over several teams' current options. That includes more than a few in position to draft a signal-caller in the 2023 NFL Draft.
MORE: NFL Mock Draft 2023, 3-round edition
Even if no trade is on the horizon, it's worth looking at teams that make the most sense to seek to acquire Lance:
Trey Lance landing spots
Houston Texans
If there is any substance to rumors Houston isn't sold on C.J. Stroud at No. 2 in the NFL Draft, then Lance could be a readymade solution for first-year Texans coach DeMeco Ryans. The Texans certainly have the draft capital to make an intriguing offer to the 49ers, including a second-rounder, two third-rounders and a fourth-rounder.
Even a trade of the Texans' No. 12 overall pick — though unlikely — would still offer them significant leverage and mobility in the draft. By securing a high-potential QB still on his rookie deal, Houston can then trade back with a quarterback-needy team to recoup what it traded, or more, to secure Lance.
Ryans and Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik are also more familiar with Lance than any other coaches in the league, having served on San Francisco's staff over the last several years (Slowik as the passing game coordinator). A move here would give Ryans a known commodity in Lance, who at the very least represents an upgrade over Davis Mills.
It also provides Houston an opportunity to trade back and secure a ton of draft capital to build out the team. The question is whether Ryans and Slowik are comfortable with Lance's ability and recovery from a season-ending ankle injury.
Indianapolis Colts
First-year Colts coach Shane Steichen spent the last two seasons in Philadelphia running an offense predicated on the athleticism and running ability of his quarterback. Now, Jalen Hurts is the highest-paid player in the history of the NFL.
Does Steichen think lightning can strike twice with Lance?
Lance isn't nearly as polished as Hurts, who turned in an MVP-caliber season in 2022. And any move made to acquire him would be off potential, not productivity. But trading capital for Lance — as opposed to using the No. 4 overall pick on Anthony Richardson — would offer Indianapolis more draft flexibility. Steichen could instead use that pick to select one of many other players at areas of need, or trade back and accrue more draft capital.
Lance is entering the third year of his rookie contract, providing two cheap years for him to earn a second contract (though the deadline to exercise his fifth-year option will be next May). The Colts could let him earn his way into exercising the fifth-year option this year and, provided he doesn't, still get a second cheap year out of him in 2024 before addressing the QB position then.
MORE: QB-only mock draft: Projecting where Bryce Young, Anthony Richardson & others will go
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have the eighth pick of the 2023 draft, and quarterback is not an obvious projection for Atlanta as it looks to rebuild itself into a contender out of the NFC South. Former third-rounder Desmond Ridder showed signs of promise in his rookie season, and coach Arthur Smith has already said he'll start the 2023 season as a starter.
But Lance has more upside than Ridder and, provided they could get him for cheap, would present a significant shot in the arm in terms of the Falcons' quarterback competition. This is where asking price comes into play: Would Atlanta be willing to trade a second-round pick for a player who isn't guaranteed to win the starting position over another young QB? Atlanta has only so much time to see whether he's worth exercising the fifth-round option on his rookie contract.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans have the 11th pick of the 2023 NFL Draft — at which time QB prospects Stroud, Richardson and Bryce Young will be off the board. Tennessee could take Kentucky's Will Levis — a physically gifted QB with significant work needed to improve his fundamentals — at 11 if he's still on the board. He could then compete with former third-rounder Malik Willis for the right to succeed Ryan Tannehill, in the final year of his deal in Tennessee.
Otherwise, the Titans may use one of their later picks on Lance. Like Willis, his rushing ability is a big part of his game, though coach Mike Vrabel criticized the former in 2022 for being too quick to scramble instead of going through his progressions. There's not a significant difference in Lance and Willis' career stats, but if Vrabel feels competition will benefit both Lance and Willis after a largely disastrous season at QB, then he might make a move for the former No. 3 overall pick.
Of note: The Titans in January made Ran Carthon their general manager after he spent the previous two seasons as the 49ers' director of player personnel. Like Ryans and Slowik in Houston, he is keenly aware of Lance's upside, and how he might fit into Vrabel's offensive system, headlined by running back Derrick Henry.
