After the San Francisco 49ers drafted Trey Lance in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft, rumors automatically circulated about who would be the starter in San Francisco going forward.
Now, it's a no-brainer that Lance should be given the keys to the 49ers franchise.
2 Reasons Why Trey Lance Should Be Given The Key To The 49ers
2. Jimmy G Has Run Out Of Magic
One of the biggest reasons head coach Kyle Shanahan has had a hard time giving up on Jimmy Garoppolo as starter is because of his winning record. Garoppolo started his career in the Bay Area with an absurd 7-0 record, but that has since fizzled. The 49ers have been a losing team the last two years, and Jimmy G’s passer rating has dropped dramatically these last two seasons.
Garoppolo is 8-7 in his last 15 games, with a rating below 100.0. He has also thrown just 19 touchdowns to 10 interceptions in that span. The 30-year-old is a stationary quarterback that can’t take off with his legs, and he has been banged up numerous times since being traded to San Francisco.
One of the biggest warning signs was when Garoppolo fell apart in the 4th quarter of the 2019 Super Bowl, missing a key deep throw to a wide open Emmanuel Sanders that could’ve arguably won San Francisco the title. Since losing that game in devastating fashion, the 49ers have fallen off a cliff.
1. Dual-Threat QB's Are The Way Of the Future
With Tom Brady as an exception, top-tier quarterbacks consist of Aaron Rodgers, Kyler Murray, Russell Wilson, Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. All names listed can use their feet to pick up first downs, and that’s exactly what Trey Lance can do.
Albeit having struggled in his first two appearances against the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals, the former North Dakota State star showed glimpses of his raw talent, with exceptional speed and arm strength that Garoppolo simply does not possess. In those two games, Lance ran for over 100 yards combined.
Lance has a cannon of an arm, and given time, should be able to harness and improve his throwing accuracy. The Niners have legitimate Pro Bowl weapons in Deebo Samuel and George Kittle. If Brandon Aiyuk can come into his own, then Lance has plenty of options to throw to. Kyle Shanahan loves calling play-action rollouts already with Garoppolo, and Lance would add another element to plays like those.
The 49ers had a similar QB dilemma in 2012 when they went with the speedy Colin Kaepernick over the conservative Alex Smith. It was the right choice as they advanced to the Super Bowl that year and their offense became much more explosive. It’s the same kind of deal with Garoppolo and Lance. Play it safe with Jimmy, or expand your playbook with the rookie and have a guy who can take off with his legs and throw it deep more often.
I’ll take the latter. There may be growing pains at first, but San Francisco is not a Super Bowl contender this season. It's time to invest in the future and start Trey Lance.
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