San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance has been the subject of trade talks all offseason, and recent reports indicate that the former third-overall pick could finally play up to his potential in 2023. The North Dakota State product spent the offseason working out with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and reportedly had a huge breakthrough with his mechanics.
Trey Lance Trade: Quarterback Breaks Through With Patrick Mahomes
The Report
After spending the vast majority of the 2022 season on the injured reserve, Lance hired quarterback coach Jeff Christensen to help improve his mechanics and reclaim a starting job with one of the 32 NFL teams. Christensen also works with superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes and, while speaking with Matt Burrows of The Athletic, noted that the young quarterback had a breakthrough while working with the reigning MVP.
Christensen said Trey Lance’s competitiveness and demeanor reminded him of Patrick Mahomes.
“Pat really thinks the world of him.”https://t.co/qyGDAwgEdt pic.twitter.com/LphPw4tN81
— Steph Sanchez (@Steph49K) May 19, 2023
“I said, ‘Watch this. Watch what he does here,'” Christensen said. “It was something I was telling him to do that he wasn’t quite doing. And then he saw Patrick apply it perfectly. And I think that visual buy-in, that mental buy-in, helped him past that mental hump…he just kept getting better. [Over] the last seven days, every day was a substantial jump.”
This is yet another positive report for Trey Lance, although there is a very real chance that this is nothing but empty talk to try and bolster his trade value. Earlier reports indicated that a finger injury led to poor accuracy, and he’s reportedly 100% recovered from both the finger ailment and his season-ending ankle injury.
Of course, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard positive offseason reports about talented but raw players getting ready to make a leap. After all, it just feels like yesterday that Tim Tebow fixed his mechanics and was ready to be a pure pocket passer. Actions speak louder than words, and the fact that the San Francisco 49ers signed Sam Darnold heavily suggests that the team is looking to trade Trey Lance. So, if Lance is on the way out, then who will trade for him?
Trey Lance Trade Candidates
If the Minnesota Vikings are buying this report, then they are easily the most likely team to trade for Trey Lance. It’s an open secret that the team is looking to move on from Kirk Cousins as he enters the final year of his contract. Cousins is one of the better NFL quarterbacks, but he lacks the ceiling to lead a flawed team to a Super Bowl. Trey Lance is anything but a safe bet, but he has a much higher ceiling than the physically-limited Cousins.
If the Vikings aren’t interested, then, barring an injury to one of the other starting quarterbacks, the former third-overall pick might have to accept life as an NFL backup. If this happens, the most logical trade destination for Trey Lance is a Super Bowl contender that already has an entrenched starter and absolutely no backup plan at quarterback. Based on that description, the three most likely teams are the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Los Angeles Chargers.
Lamar Jackson finally received his contract, but he has also missed a combined 10 games in the past two seasons. Tyler Huntley left a lot to be desired last year, and Lance would probably be a better Plan B.
Trey Lance will never be as good as Patrick Mahomes, but he can probably beat out Blaine Gabbert if acquired via trade. Perhaps Mahomes can put in a good word for his workout buddy – for what it’s worth, the Chiefs appeared to take his input into account when drafting Rashee Rice.
The Chargers, meanwhile, are one snap away from rolling with either Easton Stick or Max Duggan under center. Neither quarterback is nearly good enough to pilot this offense, and a Trey Lance trade makes plenty of sense for both sides.
Main Photo: Kyle Terada – USA Today Sports
