The San Francisco 49ers’ plans as a defender for the 2021 season and beyond are his biggest doubts in the off season. In Lance Zierlein’s first simulated draft for the NFL.com, the 49ers select North Dakota state quarterback Trey Lance with the 12th overall choice. This scenario would take some fascinating months for San Francisco.
For 49ers to use their preferred choice in a quarterback, an exchange for Deshaun Watson is probably off the table. So, let’s assume that’s the case, and Jimmy Garoppolo is still on the San Francisco list.
Choosing Lance with your first choice gives 49ers a little bit of the best of both worlds when it comes to the short and long term future of the quarterback position in San Francisco.
Starting a rookie in 2021 would likely take the 49ers out of the Super Bowl contest right away. A first-year signal caller never started or won a Super Bowl. The championship windows are not opened very often, so throwing out the 2021 season to start overall choice No. 12 is probably not on the cards.
This is especially true for a potential customer like Lance, who started just 19 games at NDSU and tried just 318 passes. He will need a little spice, but the talent is undeniable.
Lance is a good size at 6-3, 221 pounds. He completed 208 of his 318 shots (65 percent) for 2,947 yards, 30 touchdowns and just one interception. He also ran for 1,325 yards and 18 touchdowns in 192 runs. He is a true defender who can beat teams that try to keep him in his pocket. This ability to fall back and shoot is what 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan wants most. Lance’s legs would be just another wrinkle for an attack that is already difficult to stop.
A year to sit back and learn the 49ers’ attack would probably be the best thing for Lance’s development, which brings us back to Garoppolo and the 49ers competing for the Super Bowl in 2021. Having a newcomer on the list like QB2 or QB3 it wouldn’t t be a big burden on the salary cap. The 49ers could keep Garoppolo, who has already helped their quarterback for the Super Bowl, and try to fight next season while preparing the future quarterback.
It is the best scenario that allows 49ers to cross the line between playing for a championship and finding a quarterback in the franchise.
San Francisco has a lot of holes on its list to deal with overall choice # 12, and a perspective like Lance may not fall as far as that choice. If he does, 49ers may find it difficult to transmit a talent of his level with such uncertainty to them as a defender beyond this year.