The San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback plans for the 2021 season and beyond are their biggest question marks in the off-season. In Lance Zierlein’s first mockery of NFL.com, the 49ers select North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance with the overall number 12. That scenario will cause a fascinating few months for San Francisco.
For the 49ers to use their best choice on a quarterback, that means Deshaun Watson is probably not off the table. Let’s assume that’s the case, and Jimmy Garoppolo is still in San Francisco.
By choosing Lance with their first pick, the 49ers give some of the best of both worlds in terms of the short- and long-term future of the quarterback position in San Francisco.
Starting a rookie in 2021 would seemingly take the 49ers out of the Super Bowl battle right away. A first-year caller has never started or won a Super Bowl. Championship windows are not open as often, and the 2021 season to start the overall number 12 is probably not in the cards.
This is especially true for a prospect like Lance, who started just 19 games at NDSU and tried just 318 passes. He will need spices, but the talent can not be denied.
Lance has a good size of 6-3, 221 pounds. He completed 208 of his 318 throws (65 percent) for 2,947 yards, 30 touchdowns and just one interception. He also ran for 1,325 yards and carried 18 touchdowns on 192 carries. He is a true fullback with double threat that can beat teams trying to keep him in the pocket. The ability to fall back and throw is what 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan most desires. Lance’s legs would only be an extra wrinkle for an offense that is already hard to stop.
A year to sit and learn the 49ers offense is probably the best thing for Lance’s development, bringing us back to Garoppolo and the 49ers leading a Super Bowl battle in 2021. ‘ t is a major burden on the salary cap. The 49ers can keep Garoppolo, who has already helped them in a Super Bowl, in a Super Bowl, and try to fight next season while taking care of the quarterback of the future.
This is a best-case scenario that would allow the 49ers to play the line between a championship and a franchise quarter.
San Francisco has a lot of holes in their rankings to address the No. 12 overall pick, and a prospect like Lance may not fall as far as that pick. If he does, the 49ers could make it difficult to transfer a talent of his level with so much uncertainty for them in the quarterbacks behind this year.