The 49ers’ selection of Trey Lance with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft bodes well for Jimmy Garoppolo’s immediate future in the Bay Area.
While rumors swirled prior to the draft that Garoppolo would wind up being traded, it appears now the club will hang on to their starter for the 2021 campaign while Lance develops following a college career truncated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lance’s pro-readiness is only in question because he made 17 college starts at the FCS level, one step below the FBS which is where colleges like Clemson and Alabama play. He started and won 16 games in 2019, but then the pandemic hit and he played just one contest in 2020 before North Dakota State’s season was shut down.
What’ll be interesting to see is how quickly Lance’s sky-high football IQ and experience in a pro-style offense allow him to adapt to the pro game.
He was 19-years old and responsible for changing plays and protections at the line of scrimmage, spent a lot of time under center and turning his back to the defense on play action. Those characteristics should make his transition easier, but the jump from FCS to the pros is still going to be a difficult one.
In the meantime, Garoppolo can function as a quality starter still capable of taking the 49ers to the Super Bowl. That’s their goal for 2021, and it’s hard to imagine a rookie stepping in and doing that. Even a player as talented as Lance.
Keeping Garoppolo was the 49ers’ initial plan when they made their trade up to No. 3 overall, and head coach Kyle Shanahan before the draft discussed how important the veteran would be on the roster. His long-term future is still very much up in the air, but the Lance pick appears to keep Garoppolo in the fold at least for the 2021 season.