Trey Lance Should be Rooting for the 49ers to Trade him

Lance won't ever say this publicly or even come close to hinting at it.

There is a scenario where the 49ers trade Trey Lance during the NFL draft.

Right now, the 49ers are fielding calls from teams regarding his availability. Now, they aren't seeking a trade and shopping. They are very well content with keeping Lance aboard. 

However, the fact that it was leaked that the 49ers are receiving calls about Lance most likely means it came from the 49ers as a method to tell teams across the league that it will be costly to acquire Lance and to tell Lance's camp that they are not the ones initiating the trade talks. It is more skewed towards it being unlikely that Lance is traded than it is likely. Still, there is a scenario where he could be sent packing to another team.

Lance won't ever say this publicly or even come close to hinting at it. That isn't the type of guy/player that Lance is. It's part of what makes him such a high character guy. But Lance should be rooting for the 49ers to trade him. This is something he should be thinking about to himself and hoping for. What is in the best interest for Lance isn't staying with the 49ers. They are no longer investing time in him anymore. It was only due to Brock Purdy's injury that he is even being given a shot to take the starting job.

Even then, he has to outduel Sam Darnold, look solid throughout OTAs and training camp, then seal the deal in the preseason JUST to make a case to start in the regular season. And that is assuming Purdy isn't ready for Week 1 because if he is ready, then the 49ers can easily pass Lance over for Purdy despite his positive efforts. Besides, it is not like he has teammates who have his back. They didn't last year and still don't this year. All Lance really has in his corner is Brandon Aiyuk, and there is a chance that the 49ers could trade him as well since they haven't picked up his fifth-year option yet.

Lance needs to go to a team that will commit to him for a year. A team that will let him play through his low moments and allow him to grow. A team that will actually support him and do their utmost to aid his development. That isn't the 49ers. All they care about is a quarterback who is healthy and can run the offense with efficiency. But most importantly, the 49ers will side with any quarterback who can be attached to wins. It's why the core 49ers players gravitated to Jimmy Garoppolo so easily despite rarely being a driving force for wins. They are doing the same with Purdy, which is why they could care less about his elbow. 

With Lance, the 49ers haven't seen much of anything. All they can go off of is the practices they have seen from him, which of course he's going to struggle going against an elite defense, yet it still doesn't matter. The miniscule sample size of Lance from last season is enough for the 49ers to not care if Lance is their guy any longer. They do not want to wait. They would rather take an average guy who they can win with than see what Lance has. Darnold might end up being that average guy to them, which is why they are in a competition. 

The 49ers should not trade Lance given the lack of value they will get for him. Just let it play out for him and see what you got this year. Lance isn't backing down at all and it would be mightily impressive to see him breakthrough. But the ideal and optimal scenario for him is if he is traded to a team that will actually support him.