The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are likely to lose Tom Brady this year, with the veteran quarterback heading toward free agency. But they’re also unlikely to let him go without making at least making a few pitches.
The Bucs must be hoping to have Brady back next season, but it would be foolish of them to hang everything on the seven-time Super Bowl champion and not have a backup plan in place.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano has named San Francisco 49ers QB Trey Lance as one such possible plan, pointing out that the 2021 3rd overall draft pick is still very young and could be a force with the right people around him.
“I’ve said this before about other teams, but I’d look into trading for Trey Lance,” Graziano said this week. “The 49ers might be about to win the Super Bowl with Brock Purdy at quarterback. Lance, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 draft, is still just 22. Get him healthy, pair him with the right offensive coordinator and reap the benefits of the development work the Niners did with him.”
The 49ers are in a great position at the moment, given that they have multiple QBs who could be traded. They won’t be able to trade Jimmy Garoppolo as he’s also set to be a free agent, but both Purdy and Lance are prime assets, with one looking to lead the team to glory after sort of popping up out of nowhere.
The Niners will likely have to choose one over the other in the offseason, and the feeling is it’s going to be Purdy. Whatever the case may be, they’re almost certain to get top value for either QB, especially if they win the Super Bowl.
