The San Francisco 49ers‘ quarterback controversy continues, as the team still hasn’t traded Jimmy Garoppolo, and head coach Kyle Shanahan has refused to say who will start under center for the 2022 season.
Perhaps Garoppolo will be traded at some point before Week 1 of the new season, as there are a few teams around the National Football League who could use an upgrade at QB.
If, or when, he gets dealt, it will officially trigger the start of the Trey Lance era in Northern California.
Would moving on to Lance right now make the team a true Super Bowl contender?
The Niners Are Stacked On Both Sides Of The Football
The 49ers obviously have one of the more talented teams in pro football, and it is easy to forget that they were in position to defeat the eventual world champion Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game and advance to the Super Bowl.
When talking about the Niners, one has to start with their newest star, wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who broke out in a big way this past season.
He put up 1,405 receiving yards, 365 rushing yards, and 14 total touchdowns, earning him his first trip to the Pro Bowl, as well as All-Pro First-Team honors.
Right now, there is some anxiety in the Bay about his future with the team, as he has removed all connections with the 49ers on social media, but at least for now, he will remain in the red and gold.
George Kittle remains one of the game’s better tight ends, and at age 28, he should have at least a few more productive years in him.
Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco’s WR2, is thought to have tremendous potential while running back Elijah Mitchell had an unexpectedly strong rookie season with 963 yards and five touchdowns in 11 contests.
On the defensive side of the football, Nick Bosa recorded 15.5 sacks and 32 quarterback hits in 2021, earning him his second trip to the Pro Bowl in his three seasons in the NFL.
The 49ers’ secondary was thought to be iffy, and to that end, they signed Charvarius Ward, a 25-year-old cornerback, and he has been regarded as a great pickup for them.
Many, if not most of the pieces are there for San Francisco, and all they need is an elite or near-elite QB who will run the show efficiently.
Lance Has Some Work To Do, But He Has Potential
Lance is 6-foot-4 and weighs about 220 pounds, making him big enough to see over defenders, and he has demonstrated the ability to gain yards with his legs.
He also seems to have the ability to throw the long ball and connect with his receivers far downfield.
“Trey Lance can’t throw the deep ball with accuracy” pic.twitter.com/jeLAnRW6qA
— Alex (@SadNinersFan_) April 2, 2022
If you were really smart you’d stop coming up with reasons why Trey Lance won’t break out in 2022.pic.twitter.com/JzlN10bHwr
— Moody (@EricNMoody) March 13, 2022
Obviously, there are plenty of questions about Lance and his ability to be a top-flight NFL quarterback.
Some wonder if he will be able to perform well in the pocket and connect on passes while being pressured.
There’s also the matter of how Lance simply hasn’t played a lot of organized football, partly due to his last year of college ball being interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the end, there’s only one way to know if the 49ers will be championship contenders with Lance – he needs to get on the field and get lots of snaps.
NEXT: Deebo Samuel May Have Revealed His Salary Demands