The 2020 NFL Draft was filled with a bunch of surprises. Chicago Bears trading up to draft Justin Fields at #11 overall, Mac Jones joining the New England Patriots, and even DeVonta Smith to the Philadelphia Eagles.
But one of the early questions to be answered in the 1st round was the San Francisco 49ers’ decision to draft Trey Lance at the 3rd overall pick.
Amidst much chaos, HC Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch decided to trade up and acquire the 3rd overall pick from Miami Dolphins.
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They gave up their 2021 12th pick, a 2021 3rd-round pick and 1st-round picks in 2022 and 2023 in exchange for Trey Lance.
The former NDSU man skipped the 2020 college football season due to the COVID-19 crisis. However, he is expected to make an immediate impact with the 49ers when the season starts in September.
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Trey Lance tipped for a bright future with San Francisco 49ers
Speaking on The Rich Eisen Show earlier this week, San Francisco 49ers boss Kyle Shanahan spoke about the quarterback situation in The Bay after the arrival of Trey Lance.
He also explained what made them move for Lance as compared to other options such as Mac Jones (Alabama Crimson Tide), and Justin Fields (Ohio State Buckeyes).
“The thing that made us so confident is…I just watched quarterbacks for a month. To feel the way that I did, especially about Mac and then about Trey and where we were at, especially, with what happened with Stafford and Deshaun, we knew early that we got to be aggressive in order to get one.
“Welcome to the #49ers buddy.”
The moment Trey Lance was drafted to the Niners 🙌
(via @49ers)pic.twitter.com/2zGycEcvFB
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 30, 2021
“We looked in at the others. We looked in at the 4th pick, we looked in at the 5th pick, the 3rd one was the most chance of making a move.
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“I truly believe that if we wouldn’t have, I think someone else was going to eventually. The price was only going to go up,” Shanahan said on the show.
The Niners fan group definitely wants Lance to take up a starting berth ahead of the struggling Jimmy Garoppolo in 2021. But coach Shanahan maintains that Jimmy G is their starter, at least for now.
The rookie quarterback might have to work with his teammates and understand the 49ers’ offense before challenging Jimmy for a starting spot. His dual-threat abilities will definitely serve as a bonus.
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Either way, things are looking promising for Shanahan’s Red and Gold army.
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