The San Francisco 49ers moved heaven and Earth to trade for Trey Lance back in the 2021 NFL Draft, but they did not get a good return on investment. The quarterback has started just four games over the past two seasons and, with Brock Purdy firmly entrenched as the starting quarterback, will likely have a new team in 2023.
While no trade is imminent, and the #49ers would almost certainly want to make sure Brock Purdy's rehab continues to go as smoothly as it's been going, the interest from other teams in Lance has been there. https://t.co/H29UL0iecw
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 19, 2023
Report: Trey Lance Likely to be Traded In 2023
The Source of the Rumors
While rumors regarding a Trey Lance trade have been swirling for months now, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was the first to go on record and report on the trade discussions. According to the NFL insider, San Francisco has received calls about the former first-round pick, and while a trade isn’t imminent, the team certainly isn’t ruling it out.
You don’t need to be the world’s greatest detective to realize that the 49ers are the source of this report. After all, they’re the only team that could definitively know how many offers are out there for Lance. By leaking this to the media, the team has essentially stated that Trey Lance is available for trade if another team makes the right offer.
Additionally, their personnel moves back up this decision. The 49ers signed Sam Darnold in free agency, and that wouldn’t make sense for the team or for Darnold unless everybody involved knew that Trey Lance would not be around in 2023.
While Lance’s value has depreciated since 2021, there should be a few teams willing to roll the dice on the talented quarterback. After all, it’s not his fault that he got injured last year, so perhaps some team can buy low and find a diamond in the rough. The only question is, which teams are most likely to make a move for Trey Lance.
Possible Trey Lance Trade Destinations
According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the most likely candidate for Trey Lance is the Minnesota Vikings. While this may appear surprising at first, it makes sense when you think about it. Kirk Cousins is entering the final year of his contract, so 2023 can basically be an off-field audition for Lance. If he performs well in practice, Minnesota can let Cousins walk and move forward with a younger quarterback.
Lance probably wants a starting job, and his best odds of finding one are with the Tennessee Titans. Ryan Tannehill is still around, but this team is clearly in rebuild mode, and Tannehill is too old to be a part of the future. Malik Willis did not play well last year, so perhaps the Titans trade for a better version of Willis in Trey Lance.
Of course, there is a decent chance Lance will spend at least one more year on the bench. If he has to accept a backup role, the best fit is with the Baltimore Ravens. Lamar Jackson will probably be back for another season, but nobody knows what will happen after that. Adding Trey Lance to the picture gives the Ravens a good fallback option if they are unable to re-sign the former MVP.
Last but certainly not least is the New Orleans Saints. Derek Carr is an adequate bridge quarterback, but the team needs to find a younger option for the future. Some reports believe that New Orleans is interested in drafting quarterback Hendon Hooker, but if Lance is cheaper, then they might as well go with him.
Main Photo: Kyle Terada – USA Today Sports
