The NFL 2022 off season has seen an array of trades and signings that have shocked fans.
The off season is also full of rumors of trade deals that may or may not happen.
One involves San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
#NFL Trade Rumors & Predictions
Trade Candidates in video: DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, DeVante Parker, Laviska Shenault, Baker Mayfield, Nick Foles, Jimmy Garoppolo, James Bradberry and I shoot down the Tom Brady rumors.https://t.co/87IsJ9hFn4
— The GOAT House (@GoatHouseNFL) March 26, 2022
A trade would make Trey Lance the clear starter for 2022.
However, we have seen this story before in Green Bay during the 2021 off season.
Rumors of an Aaron Rodgers trade deal made headlines for months.
People rumored the team would start Jordan Love in 2021 after trading Rodgers.
So looking back at 2021 and what we have for 2022, is Lance the next Love?
Both Quarterbacks Were Drafted To Take Over As The Leader Under Center
The Love draft pick showed that Green Bay needed someone to replace Rodgers at some point.
When the 49ers drafted Lance, it showed the same thing with their quarterback situation.
Both players are with their teams as the future of the franchise.
At least that’s what it led some to believe.
The situation for Love in Green Bay looks to be a flop for him and the team.
His contract expires next season unless the team picks up the option for his last year.
The deal they made with Rodgers makes that less likely to happen.
With Lance, he doesn’t have that problem at all with the 49ers.
The 49ers informed him he’s the presumptive starter for 2022.
#49ers QB Trey Lance has been told he is the presumptive starting quarterback heading into the season, per @JFowlerESPN
— Sports Escape (@SportsEscapeHQ) March 24, 2022
That pushes Lance out of the Love comparison.
Garoppolo Is Still In San Francisco, Complicating Matters
The problem with what Lance got told is that Garoppolo is still with the team.
We know Garoppolo won’t give up his starting position to Lance without a fight.
That makes the word presumptive key in what the 49ers told Lance.
It means that Jimmy G isn’t out of the picture yet.
Until he gets traded or can’t play because of injury, Garoppolo will have the chance to be a starter for the 49ers.
If Garoppolo stays and gets the starting job, it pushes Lance back down into the Love comparison.
The Determining Factor Of The Lance/Love Conversation
Even though the two quarterbacks share similar situations, Lance isn’t the next Love when you look at the stats.
Lance performed well in the starts he had with the 49ers.
In the two games that he started in, he would go 1-1.
He went 31 for 52 with 341 passing yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions during his two starts.
In the four additional games that he has appeared in, he threw for three touchdowns and 262 yards.
In Love’s only start in 2021, he would lose to the Kansas City Chiefs.
He went 19 for 34 with 190 passing yards with one touchdown and one interception.
In his other appearance in the season, he passed for 221 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Those stats show Lance did better overall for 2021 than Love.
With the NFL, every team looks at the stats of the players.
It is no difference between Love and Lance.
Those stats are the crucial factor of why Lance isn’t the next Love.
NEXT: What Would Put Kyle Shanahan On The Hot Seat?
