A recent report indicated that teams have been calling the San Francisco 49ers and making trade offers for quarterback Trey Lance.
There is no indication the 49ers are actually interested in trading Lance, but it could mean that he does have some viable trade value on the open market.
As of now, he is their starting quarterback, at least until Brock Purdy, their most recent starter, makes a full recovery from surgery on a torn UCL in his throwing elbow.
Analyst Kevin Cole feels that perhaps San Francisco is leaking the news of teams calling them about Lance in order to let it be known they’re open to trading him and to create some sort of leverage.
The composition of this is so good. Only the 49ers could be the source for this, yet they want the framing of not making calls, only fielding them. But leaking this is basically saying “we’re open for business” pic.twitter.com/RFeI9u7OFE
—Kevin Cole (@KevinCole___) April 19, 2023
Trying to create leverage is standard fare in pro sports when a team either wants to or is open to trading a player.
However, right now it wouldn’t exactly be wise for the 49ers to trade Lance.
He started last season as their QB1, only to suffer a large ankle injury in Week 2 and get replaced by veteran Jimmy Garoppolo.
When Garoppolo went down with a season-ending foot injury in Week 13, Purdy, the last player chosen in the 2022 NFL Draft, took over under center, and he did very well, guiding the team to the NFC Championship Game, where he suffered his turn UCL.
Right now, the 49ers look like the best team in the NFC, at least on paper, but for them to actually reach the Super Bowl, let alone claim their sixth Vince Lombardi Trophy, they will have to figure out their QB situation and what to Ultimately do with Lance should Purdy be ready in September and be their franchise signal-caller.
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NFL Fans Posed With Intriguing Trey Lance Question