Trey Lance quickly went from being the 49ers next franchise quarterback to being named their third-stringer. He’s barely played and presents a similar upside he once did as a prospect. However, it’s been made obvious that Lance isn’t a good fit for San Francisco. A trade seems beneficial for both parties, so here are five possible landing spots for Lance.
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5 Offenses That Could Develop Trey Lance
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons have invested heavily in offensive skill positions over the last few years. In consecutive drafts, they’ve used a top-10 pick on Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson. Those playmakers are paired with a stout offensive line and an effective run scheme. All Atlanta is missing is a quarterback.
Second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder will enter 2023 as the team’s starter. Ridder only started four games as a rookie and was decent at best. If Ridder isn’t the answer, Lance might be.
Lance’s athleticism is suitable for Atlanta’s offense. Atlanta ran the ball more times than any team in the league last year. Their quarterback was frequently involved in said run designs. Surrounding Lance with young talent and letting him use his legs could turn his career around.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings made an effort to build a younger roster this offseason. Notable changes offensively include drafting Jordan Addison in the first round and naming Alexander Mattison the starting running back. With 35-year-old quarterback Kirk Cousins entering the final year of his contract, it’s doubtful he’s a part of Minnesota’s long-term plans.
Playing on the Vikings is an intriguing possibility for Trey Lance, who was born and raised in Minnesota. He’d have All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson to lean on along with solid complimentary playmakers like T.J. Hockenson.
Second-year head coach Kevin O’Connell comes from the Sean McVay coaching tree and uses similar concepts offensively. This means using specific formations to create mismatches in the run or pass game. It also means frequently using “clear-out routes” to scheme receivers open in certain areas of the field. All of this makes a quarterback’s job easier and would help the development of Lance.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers project to be one of the league’s worst teams this season. The 2024 draft class features a couple of exciting quarterback prospects, particularly Caleb Williams. In essence, Tampa Bay seems to have an easy shot at landing their future franchise quarterback next April. But a lot can change until then, so the Bucs should explore the possibility of trading for Lance.
The Buccaneers are a shell of the team they were a couple of years ago when they won the Super Bowl. Their offense has gotten noticeably worse, especially in the trenches. The good news is they have a solid group of pass catchers for Lance to utilize if they acquire him. Veteran wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin consistently post 1,000-yard seasons. Additionally, running back Rachaad White is well known for his receiving ability out of the backfield.
There wouldn’t be much pressure on Lance to win right away. If he struggles to win games, it will just improve Tampa Bay’s draft pick. It’s a win-win situation for a team that won’t be competitive this season.
Las Vegas Raiders
The closest the Raiders have had to a franchise quarterback is Derek Carr. The Raiders released Carr earlier this offseason. Coming off a six-win season, the team appears to need a major rebuild. With no apparent long-term solution at quarterback, taking a shot on Trey Lance is low risk, high reward. It would also make sense for San Francisco to deal Lance to a team in the AFC.
Ironically enough, Lance’s predecessor would be the same in Las Vegas as it was in San Francisco. Former 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo signed with the Raiders this offseason. Garoppolo is familiar with head coach Josh McDaniels’ system. The two spent time together with the New England Patriots. Garoppolo could show Lance the ropes once more.
Denver Broncos
This all depends on how Sean Payton views Trey Lance, as it seems he’s running the show in Denver right now. If Payton is optimistic about Lance, it’s logical for the Broncos to add him to their quarterback room.
It’s questionable if Russell Wilson can be the player Denver hoped he would be after a disastrous 2022. The team gave up an arm and a leg to acquire Wilson last offseason. So far, that move has backfired. If he fails to return to form, Lance is a cheap alternative.
Lance’s teammates in Denver would take a lot of pressure off of him. Opposing defenses have to gameplan for up-and-coming skill position players such as Javonte Williams and Jerry Jeudy. As a mobile quarterback, Lance brings another dimension to this offense that defensive coordinators would have to prepare for.
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