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The San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback plans for the 2021 season and beyond are their biggest question marks heading into the offseason. In Lance Zierlein’s first mock draft for NFL.com, the 49ers select North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance with the No.12 pick. That scenario would lead to a fascinating few months for San Francisco.
For the 49ers, using their top pick on a quarterback means a trade for Deshaun Watson is most likely off the table. So let’s assume that’s the case, and Jimmy Garoppolo is still on the San Francisco list.
Lance’s selection with their top pick gives the 49ers a bit of the best of both worlds when it comes to the short and long term future of the quarterback position in San Francisco.
Starting a rookie in 2021 would ostensibly remove the 49ers from the Super Bowl challenge right away. A freshman caller has never started or won a Super Bowl. Championship windows don’t open that often, so effectively throwing in the 2021 season to start overall pick No.12 is probably not in the cards.
This is especially true for a prospect like Lance who has started just 19 games at NDSU and only attempted 318 assists. He will need a little seasoning, but the talent is undeniable.
Lance has a good size at 6-3, 221 pounds. He completed 208 of his 318 shots (65 percent) for 2,947 yards, 30 touchdowns and a single interception. He also ran for 1,325 yards and 18 touchdowns on 192 carries. He’s a true double-threat quarterback who can beat teams that try to keep him in their pocket. That ability to step back and throw is what 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan covets the most. Lance’s legs would be just one more wrinkle to an attack that was already difficult to stop.
A year to sit down and learn the 49ers offense would probably be the best thing for Lance’s development, which brings us back to Garoppolo and the 49ers vying for a Super Bowl in 2021. Having a rookie on the roster like the QB2 or QB3 wouldn’t. t be a huge burden on the salary cap. The 49ers could keep Garoppolo, who has already helped the quarterback to a Super Bowl, and try to fight next season while preparing for the quarterback of the future.
It’s an optimistic scenario that allows the 49ers to straddle the line between playing for a championship and finding a franchise quarterback.
San Francisco has plenty of holes on their roster to fill with the No. 12 overall pick, and a prospect like Lance might not fall as far as that pick. If he does, the 49ers may find it difficult to pass on a talent of his level with so much uncertainty for them to the quarterback beyond this year.
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