There’s a saying in football that has been echoed by many, including the great John Madden. “If you’ve got two quarterbacks, you have none.” When assessing the San Francisco 49ers current roster, they’ve got three.
The 49ers Unique Quarterback Room
Trey Lance
To say that Trey Lance’s football career has been a complex journey would be an understatement. And he’s just 23 years old.
Lance was redshirted as a freshman at North Dakota State University in 2018. In 2019, he earned the starting quarterback gig and immediately showed tremendous dual-threat ability. Lance threw for 28 TDs and zero interceptions, tacking on 1100 yards and 14 TDs on the ground. In just one season as a starter, he made a name for himself. Unfortunately for Lance, his sophomore season would be his only one in college. NDSU decided against playing in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, Lance declared for the 2021 NFL Draft when he became eligible.
The 49ers, enamored with what Lance could become, traded up to select him with the third overall pick. Since then, there hasn’t been much to report on. As a rookie, he was the backup behind veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and played even less in year two. A severe ankle injury brought an end to Lance’s season after starting just a couple of games.
It remains to be seen if Lance has what it takes to be a starter entering his third season as a pro. He’s only played one full season since graduating high school in 2018. It’s premature to write off Lance already, but missing out on years’ worth of development is cause for concern. He has yet to prove himself in the NFL and remains a question mark in the 49ers quarterback room.
Brock Purdy
Jimmy Garoppolo regained his role as the 49ers starting quarterback following Lance’s injury. This transition was seamless, and the team went 7-3 with him under center. However, Garoppolo’s reign came to an end in week 13 when he suffered a season-ending foot injury. San Francisco’s quarterback situation had suddenly become a nightmare.
Enter Brock Purdy. The last pick of the 2022 draft was thrust into action versus the Miami Dolphins, winners of five consecutive games. Purdy wasn’t fazed, leading the 49ers to a 16-point victory.
The rest of the story is well known by now. Purdy was sharp when called upon and his team finished the regular season 6-0 to secure a playoff spot. San Francisco’s momentum carried into the postseason, and they wound up in the NFC Championship Game. That’s when things went south. Again. Purdy fell victim to a gruesome elbow injury eight minutes into the game. The 49ers, out of backup plans, were blown out by the Eagles and their season was over.
It was later revealed that Purdy had a torn UCL, a ligament in the right elbow. This injury is extremely rare for football players so his recovery timeline is hard to estimate. Whenever he’s able to return, there are concerns that he won’t be as effective as he was beforehand.
Sam Darnold
Former first-round pick Sam Darnold has yet to find success in the NFL, but he showed growth last season. He went 4-2 as a starter, posting career highs in yards and touchdowns per attempt with the Carolina Panthers. Darnold earned himself a one-year contract with San Francisco this offseason as a result.
Darnold’s unfamiliarity with the system makes him a long shot to win the starting job. With that said, he’s being given a fair opportunity to do so. Training camp recently began for the 49ers and he’s reportedly getting reps with the first-team offense.
With so much uncertainty surrounding each candidate, it’s anyone’s guess who’ll be the 49ers starting quarterback come week one. Lance, Purdy, and Darnold each have a unique case as to why they should (or shouldn’t) be the guy for their team this season.
Main Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
