The Indianapolis Colts are one of several NFL teams that desperately need a starting quarterback ahead of Week 1.
Two other QB-needy teams in the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans will presumably find new franchise signal-callers with the first and second overall picks, respectively. The top two selections are widely expected to be Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud.
Kenneth Teape of NFL Analysis Network came up with a very enticing trade scenario in which the Colts trade for San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback Trey Lance, whom the club traded up for to take at No. 3 overall in 2021:
“What could a trade between the Colts and the 49ers look like? Indianapolis could offer a third (No. 79) and a fifth (No. 162) round pick to San Francisco in exchange for Lance.
The Colts would have their potential quarterback of the future and someone new head coach Shane Steichen could get the most out of. After the work that he did with Jalen Hurts the last two seasons, he should be able to find success coaching Lance, who has a similar skill set.
The 49ers aren’t ever going to recoup the value they traded away for the chance to select Lance, but this is better than nothing. It gives them two more chances to add some more depth at positions of need in the draft and cements the fact that Purdy is their franchise quarterback going forward.”
Lance spent most of his 2021 rookie campaign on the sidelines, though he wound up having to make two starts with Jimmy Garoppolo. He opened the 2022 season as San Fran’s starting quarterback but suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks.
Garoppolo took over as the team’s starter, but he suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 12. The 49ers then turned to third-stringer and 2022 Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy, who won all five of his regular season starts.
Purdy helped the 49ers reach the NFC title game for the third time in four years. He appears to have the inside track on the 49ers’ starting QB job, but only time will tell if the organization is actually keen on trading Lance.
