The San Francisco 49ers will have some difficult decisions to make at quarterback leading up to the 2023 season.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan previously informed reporters that Jimmy Garoppolo, the team’s primary starter since 2017, won’t be returning. The 31-year-old Garoppolo is slated to enter free agency for the first time in his career next month.
Rookie Brock Purdy, the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, won all five regular season starts and led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game. But the organization may also feel reluctant to give up on Trey Lance after sacrificing significant draft capital to move up and take him third overall in 2021.
Lance opened 2022 as San Francisco’s starting QB but suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2. Though the 49ers haven’t given any indication that they’re looking to shop Lance, the North Dakota State has popped up in trade rumors over the past few weeks.
Over at NFL Analysis Network, Kenneth Teape proposed an interesting trade idea in which the 49ers would deal Lance to the Las Vegas Raiders:
“While the 49ers won’t get close to the value they traded away to select him, getting some draft compensation in return and ending that experiment could be best for both parties.
What could it cost the Raiders to acquire Lance? A first-round pick is almost certainly off the table, and even an early Day 2 pick seems like a lot. Las Vegas could offer their third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft along with one of the two fifth-round picks they own; theirs and one courtesy of the Atlanta Falcons.
Would that be enough for the 49ers to part with the No. 3 overall pick from the 2021 NFL Draft? If they are comfortable with the rehab of Purdy and can find a veteran bridge option to handle the job until he is healthy, getting any value in exchange for Lance could be viewed as a win for the 49ers.”
The Raiders need a new starting quarterback after releasing Derek Carr, who refused to waive his no-trade clause. Tom Brady was rumored to be a potential target for the Raiders, but his retirement took that option off the table.
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Chances are low that the 49ers will trade Lance, since Purdy will be out of action for several months recovering from surgery on his UCL. But who knows? If a team like the Raiders come forward with a juicy trade proposal, the 49ers might listen.
