49ers GM John Lynch Says Trey Lance Market “hasn’t been extremely active”
Reports surfaced last week that the San Francisco 49ers received calls regarding quarterback Trey Lance. The report by NFL insider Ian Rapoport said that “the 49ers have received inquiries from several teams looking into a potential trade for former No. 3 pick QB Trey Lance.”
Rapoport said that the 49ers were fielding calls but not making them. However, the inquiring teams were “aware that Brock Purdy is likely the future starter.”
On Monday night, ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter tweeted a quote from 49ers’ GM John Lynch in response to the reports that San Francisco was fielding calls regarding Lance’s availability. According to Lynch, those conversations haven’t been as active as last week’s report would indicate.
“It hasn’t been extremely active, and it’s not like we’ve put it out there that, ‘Hey, we’re taking offers for Trey, call 1-800 to,’ that’s not been the process. It hasn’t been that substantive and we’re focused, as is Trey, on his ability to compete and play an integral role on this team.”
Lynch also confirmed the latter half of Rapoport’s report that the activity was very much one-sided.
Lynch insisted that the 49ers aren’t shopping Lance and are focused on Lance playing an “integral role” on the 49ers. While that might sound like a company line, there’s a good possibility that Lynch genuinely means that. Even if that role isn’t the starting role that Lance was initially drafted to assume.
It took the 49ers three different starting quarterbacks to make it to the NFC title game last season. If not for No. 3 going down on their opening series, they might have been playing for a Super Bowl. Imaging the Sam Darnold signing was a move toward having depth to be ready for the worst again isn’t unrealistic.
Lynch also said on Monday that Brock Purdy’s recovery from surgery to repair a torn UCL was going well.
“A lot of people (reached) out saying the fives at the Giants game were really encouraging,” Lynch said. “But I think what’s more encouraging is what I’m hearing every day from our people, from Brock. He’s making great progress. As I have it, we’re six weeks out. [Purdy] just finished that six weeks and really doing a good job with it.”
Regarding Purdy’s comments recently about his availability in 2023, Lynch said that the quarterback simply understands that he has to be on track and speculating at this point doesn’t make much sense.
“I think it’s more so Brock being Brock and understanding that he’s got to be exactly where he’s at and it doesn’t do him or anyone else a lot of good to be speculating about what’s to come,” Lynch said. “And Brock’s just jumping in each and every day and really doing well.”
An attractive trade offer could pique Lynch’s interest. However, I can’t see teams itching to sell the farm for Lance. The former third-overall pick is coming off a season-ending ankle injury. Additionally, he hasn’t proven anything when healthy.
Unless Lynch and the 49ers are willing to sell low, I will lean toward Lance being with San Francisco when the 2023 season opens.
