The San Francisco 49ers are ready to start a new era.
GM John Lynch reportedly started that Brock Purdy is currently the frontrunner to be their new quarterback if he’s healthy, essentially demoting Trey Lance to a backup position.
#49ers GM John Lynch said today that Brock Purdy is “the leader in the clubhouse” to be the team’s starting quarterback. Purdy is recovering from offseason elbow surgery.
San Francisco also currently has Trey Lance and Sam Darnold on the roster.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 27, 2023
This comes just a couple of years after they gave up a lot to get Lance in the first place, so this statement with met with some mixed reviews by the fans.
Purdy starting league is done once again
— PAIN (@Xommanders) March 27, 2023
Free Trey Lance ASAP
— Kambui Bomani (@BomaniKambui) March 27, 2023
Trey Lance every season pic.twitter.com/Yb9oN5w8kK
— ً ً (@JoeSchoenMVP) March 27, 2023
Lynch may go down as one of the greatest roster builders to not be able to figure out the QB position. He’s the expert and has effectively built the best overall team in the NFL but this feels like a statement he may come to regret. A lot of stock to put into Mr Irrelevant
— BearForceOne (@BearForceOn3) March 27, 2023
Trey Lance: pic.twitter.com/Li5jLbb6GX
— Jack (@Jack473836) March 27, 2023
Lance looked like a star in the making, but it was always clear that he was a work in progress and might need several years before being ready to make an actual impact.
He hasn’t exactly looked good when he’s been called upon, and the injury concerns are huge red flags, regardless of his youth.
Purdy, on the other hand, came out of the blue as the last overall pick in the draft to save the Niners’ season when it seemed doomed without Jimmy Garoppolo.
The offense looked better with him under center than it did with both Garoppolo and Lance, and now that Jimmy G is gone to the Las Vegas Raiders, its Purdy’s job to lose.
Kyle Shanahan and multiple Niners players have had nothing but words of praise and encouragement for Mr. Irrelevant, and some reports state that they haven’t exactly been pleased with Lance’s development — or lack thereof thus far.
But then again, the organization was quite high on him just two years ago, so Purdy will need to stay sharp if he wants to hold on to that QB1 distinction for long.
NEXT: John Lynch Gives A Strong Endorsement Of Brock Purdy
