The San Francisco 49ers’ plans as a defender for the 2021 season and beyond are the biggest question marks entering the offseason. In Lance Zierlein’s first fake sketch for NFL.com, the 49-year-old selects North Dakota quarterback Trey Lance with general election no. This scenario would lead to some fascinating months for San Francisco.
For the 49ers to use the top option on a quarterback means that a transaction for Deshaun Watson is very likely off the table. So suppose that’s the case, and Jimmy Garoppolo is still on the San Francisco list.
Selecting Lance with their first selection gives the 49ers some of the best in both worlds in terms of the short- and long-term future of the San Francisco quarterback position.
Starting a rookie in 2021 would take the 49ers out of the Super Bowl immediately. A first-year signal caller never started or won a Super Bowl. The windows of the championship are not opened so often, so the efficient throwing of the 2021 season to start the general election no. 12 is probably not in the books.
This is especially true for a prospect like Lance, who started just 19 games at NDSU and tried just 318 passes. He will need some spice, but the talent is undeniable.
Lance has good sizes at 6-3, 221 pounds. He completed 208 of the 318 throws (65%) for 2,947 meters, 30 touchdowns and one interception. It also rushed for 1,325 meters and 18 touchdowns on 192 transports. He is a true defender with two threats, who can defeat teams that try to keep him in his pocket. The ability to give up and make throws is what 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan craves the most. Lance’s legs would be just an extra wrinkle to a crime that is already hard to stop.
A year of staying and learning the 49ers’ offense would probably be the best thing for Lance’s development, which brings us back to Garoppolo and the 49ers fighting for a Super Bowl in 2021. Having a recruit on the roster, as not would be QB2 or QB3 ‘It will not be a huge burden on the salary cap. The 49ers could keep Garoppolo, who has already helped his defender in a Super Bowl, and try to fight next season while caring for the defender of the future.
It’s a scenario at best that allows the 49ers to fall between playing for a championship and finding a franchise defender.
San Francisco has a lot of holes in their list to address the No. 12 overall and a prospect like Lance may not fall as much as that pick. If he does, the 49ers may have a hard time passing on a talent of his level, with so much uncertainty for them at this year’s defender.