Trey Lance will push Jimmy G. as the starter, and push him out of San Francisco sooner than expected
On March 26th, 2021, Jed York, John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan changed the course of the San Francisco 49ers spanning the rest of the decade, for better or for worse.
Trey Lance at NDSU - Credit: Bruce Kluckhon / AP
The Miami Dolphins traded the No.3 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft to the San Francisco 49ers, in return the Dolphins received the No.12 selection, alongside San Francisco’s 2022 first-round and third-round picks.
After a disappointing season in which Jimmy Garappolo played only 6 games, due to suffering from a pair of high ankle sprains in week two and week eight, John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan decided it was time to create a path for the 49ers that didn’t rely on Jimmy G.’s health. Up until this point, Jimmy Garappolo had been San Francisco’s best option at quarterback when healthy. However, he has missed 23 games in the past three seasons, out of a potential 48 since signing his five-year, $137.5 million deal in 2018.
In almost all cases across the NFL, losing your starting signal caller is an equation for doom and despair. In the case of Jimmy G, who only has 32 career starts to his name, the missed time prevents him from also developing into the pro bowl quarterback he was trajecting to be.
"People get better when they play more, and that's what I feel for Jimmy on," Kyle Shanahan said. "One, Jimmy gives us the best chance to win. He's proven that. ... Regardless of that, I want Jimmy playing as much as possible because I know when he does, he'll only get better from the experiences of it."
Due to a lack of ticket revenue, amongst other things caused by the pandemic, the salary cap dropped to $182.5 million this year. That figure is down 8% from 2020, and Garoppolo is registered to stack $26.4 million and $27 million against the salary cap the next two seasons for the 49ers.
With salary limiting their ability to bring in a quality backup behind Jimmy Garappolo, accelerating the future by sacrificing draft capital to draft Trey Lance, age 20 out of North Dakota State University stands to reason.
The withstanding consensus around the NFL has been that Trey Lance, who was a redshirt sophomore coming out of North Dakota State University with one full year as the starter under his belt, might need a year to learn and develop before he’s ready to stand behind center. It’s an extreme competition jump from the FCS to the NFC West. However, Lance is also viewed as one of the most intelligent quarterbacks entering the NFL this year, and he hails from a system that inherited the same focuses of Kyle Shanahan’s creative, pro-style, deceptive offense.
At NDSU in 2019, Trey completed 66.9% of his passes for 2,786 yards, throwing for 28 touchdowns and 0 Interceptions (yes, zero). He was also destructive on the ground, rushing for 1,100 yards for 14 touchdowns, averaging 6.5 yards a carry. North Dakota State University’s season was canceled for 2020, in which the Bisons only played one exhibition game.
For the immediate future, Jimmy Garappolo is the starter for the San Francisco 49ers. If he finds himself playing to the level he’s capable of while remaining healthy for 17 games, several suitors should come kicking the tires, allowing him a fresh start in another city.