2022 was supposed to be the year of Trey Lance for the San Francisco 49ers. They committed to making him the starter, giving him the first-team reps throughout the offseason and in training camp despite being led to the NFC Championship game for the second time in three seasons by Jimmy Garoppolo.
Garoppolo was set to be the team’s backup as this was now Trey Lance’s team to lead. No one could blame the 49ers for making such a move as they traded three first-round picks and a third-round pick to move up into the No. 3 spot to land him.
Thus far things have not gone according to plan. Trey Lance broke his ankle in Week 2, ending his first season as a starter less than six quarters into it. Garoppolo was re-inserted as the starter but injured his foot. That thrust rookie Brock Purdy, Mr. Irrelevant himself in the 2022 NFL Draft, into the starting lineup.
Purdy has been excellent in his role, throwing for at least two touchdowns in every appearance he has made. The team is rolling after dismantling the Seattle Seahawks during Super Wild Card Weekend, setting up a Divisional Round matchup with the Dallas Cowboys.
While all attention is on that game, it is fair to wonder what the future holds for Trey Lance. Will he be given a chance to compete for the starting job again in 2023, or is Purdy now the team’s starter going forward?
Whatever the team decides to do, we may have gotten a glimpse at what Trey Lance wants. Earlier this week 49ers director of player personnel Ran Carthon was hired by the Tennessee Titans to become their general manager. A photo of Carthon was posted by Trey Lance to his Instagram story with three fingers crossed emojis, setting off speculation that he is hoping Carthon trades for him this offseason.
The Titans could be in the market for a quarterback this offseason as there are rumors that they could move on from Ryan Tannehill. Malik Willis struggled in his appearances as a rookie and Carthon could look to bring in a player that he is familiar with in Trey Lance as a long-term option in Tennessee.
Given the immense expectations that were placed on him upon being drafted by the 49ers and how things have panned out, it could be for the best that Trey Lance gets a change of scenery and lands with another franchise this offseason.
