NFL Draft: 49ers Shanahan ‘Glad We Got Lance’
QB Trey Lance 3rd overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft
North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance, right, embraces NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen by the San Francisco 49ers with the third pick in the first round of the NFL football draft Thursday April 29, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
2021.04.29 – The San Francisco 49ers have picked their franchise quarterback of the future, taking North Dakota State’s Trey Lance with the third overall pick in the NFL draft.
After trading the 12th pick, two future first-round picks and a 2022 third-rounder to Miami for the No. 3 selection last month, coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch decided on Lance as the eventual successor to the oft-injured Jimmy Garoppolo.
Lance, who turns 21 next month, is a young and relatively unproven product from North Dakota State who could use his rookie season learning behind incumbent starter Garoppolo.
“I’m not going to get ahead of myself. We’re Hour 1, Night 1,” Lance said on a video conference. “My biggest thing is to get in there and learn as much as I can. I’m excited to get there, get to know the organization and just learn.” Lance didn’t learn of the 49ers’ intentions – which they established back in January – until they were on the draft clock.
“That was a special moment, to be able to talk to him, because I think it was true surprise,” general manager John Lynch said. “He had a hunch, I believe.” Said Lance: “I don’t think I could be in a better situation. I’m just super excited to get there and learn.
While many 49ers fans were worried Shanahan would take a pocket passer like Mac Jones with the pick, the Niners instead went with a more unproven quarterback who possesses all the physical tools necessary to succeed in the modern NFL.
Lance started only 17 games at FCS-level North Dakota State, where he displayed a strong arm, mobility and mastery of a pro-style offense against lesser competition. Lance played only one game in 2020 because the FCS moved its season to the spring because of the coronavirus pandemic.
But his production in 2019 was off the charts as he threw for 2,786 yards, 28 TDs and no interceptions and ran for 1,159 yards. Lance threw his only collegiate interception last fall against Central Arkansas in a game North Dakota State played in part to give him more exposure to NFL teams.
While Lance played under center in an offense that featured plenty of play-action that should translate to Shanahan’s offense with the 49ers, he still needs work on some of his mechanics and accuracy.
The Niners could ease Lance’s progression to the NFL by keeping Garoppolo as starter in 2021 in a fashion similar to what Kansas City did with Patrick Mahomes and Alex Smith in 2017.
2021.04.29 – San Francisco 49ers 2021 NFL Draft (Video)
North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance after being chosen by the San Francisco 49ers with the third pick in the first round of the NFL football draft Thursday April 29, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
2021.04.29 – San Francisco 49ers 2021 NFL Draft (Video)
Garoppolo helped San Francisco make the Super Bowl in the 2019 season when he threw for 3,978 yards and 27 TDs. But his struggles in the fourth quarter of that title game contributed to a loss to Kansas City and his injuries have derailed two of the past three seasons.
Garoppolo missed 13 games with a knee injury in 2018 when San Francisco went 4-12 and 10 games with ankle injuries last season when the Niners finished 6-10.
This marks just the fourth time in the common draft era that San Francisco took a quarterback in the first round, with Steve Spurrier going third in 1967, Jim Druckenmiller 26th in 1997 and Alex Smith first in 2005.
Another quarterback option the 49ers considered: Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers’ reigning NFL MVP who thought a trade home to Northern California was in the works Wednesday, according to Fox Sports’ Trey Wingo.
Lynch confirmed checking with the Packers after “reading the tea leaves,” adding: “Yeah we inquired and it was a quick end to the conversation. It wasn’t happening. As we said, we’ve been convicted and excited for a long, long time, so we went right back to where we’ve been, and that’s really excited about adding Trey Lance to the 49ers.”
Ending the 49ers’ 26-year Super Bowl drought is a task neither Garoppolo nor 19 other starting quarterbacks have accomplished since Steve Young produced the 49ers’ fifth Super Bowl win.
“I loved his natural ability to play the position, which was very impressive,” Shanahan said. “And then you add on a type of running element, which I’ve always been intrigued with, but when you’ve got a guy who’s got the skillset as far as speed and size, to where you’re not going to make him a runner, but if you get in certain formations, you will run him if they don’t honor him, and now everything’s different.”
2021.04.29 – San Francisco 49ers 2021 NFL Draft (Video)
2021.04.29 – San Francisco 49ers 2021 NFL Draft (Video)
Lance won over Shanahan with more than his onfield prowess.
“He comes from a very good family,” said Shanahan, who along with Lynch met Lance’s parents at North Dakota State’s pro day earlier this month. “He’s very impressive in terms of his intellect, how he deals with people and social situations.
“I looked at him as a CEO of a company, if I ever knew anything about that stuff. He’s a hell of a quarterback and is someone I believe in and someone that I want to go to work with.” Lance said his biggest thing is to earn mutual respect among teammates and make sacrifices for them as the quarterback.
“But for me, it’s about treating people the right way and leaving an impact on them that’s bigger than football,” Lance added. “I don’t believe I’m on earth to be a football player.”
As for Garoppolo’s future, Shanahan is counting on him to return and not only mentor but compete with Lance.
“We made this move, it’s obvious, what I hope and believe in with this guy coming in,” Shanahan said. “But it would be a very tough situation if Jimmy’s not on our team.
“I want Jimmy to be here and I want this kid to be brought along, I want to see how he does. If it turns into a competition, I’d be excited about that, if he showed he was ready for that. I expect Jimmy to be here and I’d be surprised if he wasn’t.”
2021.04.29 – San Francisco 49ers 2021 NFL Draft (Video)
2021.04.29 – San Francisco 49ers 2021 NFL Draft (Video)
This draft saw Lance as the third quarterback taken, after Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson, as scripted, went 1-2 to the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New York Jets.
In trading up to No. 3, Shanahan and Lynch received the endorsement to do so from 49ers CEO Jed York, and the bigger ask may have been to retain Garoppolo, who has a no-trade clause and is slated to make $25 million this year.
Lance is the eighth quarterback drafted in 49ers history with a first-round pick. Previous choices at No. 3 overall were Y.A. Tittle (1951) and John Brodie (1957). The 49ers have drafted 27 quarterbacks since 1970, with Joe Montana being the only one to make the Hall of Fame and Pro Bowl as a 49er.
Lance is their highestdrafted quarterback since Alex Smith was picked No. 1 overall in 2005, ahead of Rodgers.
UP NEXT
The 49ers also have pick 43 in the second round and 102 in the third round Friday, along with five more selections Saturday.
Related – See below: Garoppolo vows he’ll show Lance the ropes
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Read more at: San Francisco 49ers Media Services / More AP NFL
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the San Francisco 49ers, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
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Garoppolo vows he’ll show Lance the ropes
Veteran QB appreciates Lynch’s candor on situation
San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo says he’s willing to mentor rookie QB Trey Lance. NHAT V. MEYER — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
2021.05.05 – Jimmy Garoppolo channeled his NFL upbringing with Tom Brady for what’s about to unfold in the 49ers quarterback room with Trey Lance’s arrival.
“What I can do to help him, I’ll be more than happy,” Garoppolo said Tuesday morning on ESPN Radio.
Garoppolo, in his first public comments, sounded intent on retaining the starting role but willing to mentor Lance, Thursday’s No. 3 overall draft pick.
“Tom kind of showed me the ropes,” Garoppolo added on the “Keyshawn, JWill & Zubin Show.” “The competition between us was awesome. It really made me grow as a rookie and young player.
“That’s kind of what me and Trey will (do). We’ll mold our relationship into that. But it will happen naturally. Can’t force anything. Let it come as it may.” Garoppolo appeared on multiple radio shows alongside his father, Tony, reprising a role from past offseasons in which they promote skilled labor workers like plumbers and electricians, the latter of which Tony Garoppolo was for 40 years. Sure enough, dad put into blue-collar perspective how his son should approach working with Lance. “I have my feelings who’s the better quarterback. I mean, that’s my son,” Tony Garoppolo said on CBS Sports Radio’s “The DA Show with Damon Amendolara.” “But it’s competition, just like in the workforce with these kids signing today” as part of SKILLS USA and Klein Tools’ national signing day event.
“No one’s handing them anything,” the elder Garoppolo said. “No one’s handing Jimmy anything; Trey’s not getting handed anything. They’re going to have to compete. Like you do every day at work, you have to compete. That’s how life is.” Jimmy Garoppolo voiced no complaints in what were his first comments since the day after last season ended. He spoke, instead, about seizing his opportunity to remain the 49ers starter, a role that coach Kyle Shanahan said indeed remains Garoppolo’s until Lance is ready to compete.
Garoppolo welcomed Lance from the start on draft day, sending him a congratulatory text that Lance said he was grateful to receive.
Lance’s arrival didn’t suddenly put a chip on Garoppolo’s shoulder.
“The chip will always be there. That hasn’t gone away at all. Since I got in the league, I’ve had that,” Garoppolo said. “It comes from the way you were raised. My dad was an electrician. A blue-collar guy and it rubs off on you.” Lance was the third quarterback drafted in as many picks and among five in the first round; Garoppolo was a 2014 second-round pick of the New England Patriots.
“It’s the way the league is going nowadays. Everyone is drafting young, wants to get the developmental guy,” Garoppolo said. “I know what it is. I’ve been on both sides of it now. All you can really ask for is the opportunity and once you get that you have to take advantage of it.” Garoppolo commended general manager John Lynch for an open line of communication – something that hasn’t happened in Green Bay, where Aaron Rodgers became extremely disgruntled with last year’s firstround selection of his potential successor, Jordan Love.
As Lynch and Shanahan have said since trading up March 26 for the No. 3 draft spot, they’ve kept Garoppolo in communication, though they didn’t share who’d be Garoppolo’s rookie apprentice.
“You know, John’s been really cool throughout this whole process,” Garoppolo said. “Throughout the whole thing, it could have got a little fishy here and there, but he was very straightforward the whole time and I appreciate him for that.” As much as the 49ers have pledged admiration for Garoppolo’s winning ways (22-8 as their regular season starter), injuries have kept him from 23 of 48 starts since 2018, prompting their draft move for Lance. “It’s a what-have-youdone-for-me-lately type of business,” Garoppolo said. “I’ve known that my whole career. It’s one of those things you have it, go and do it again. You can’t be satisfied with just doing (the Super Bowl) once. You’ve got to go every season and keep going at it.
“Once they said you’ll have the opportunity to start this year and fight it out, I was all for it. I was ready for the competition. That’s what we’re here for.” Garoppolo (Eastern Illinois) and Lance (North Dakota State) each won the Football Championship Subdivision’s Walter Payton Award as top offensive player, in 2013 and ’19, respectively.
“Coming from an FCS school, a smaller school, and jumping right to the NFL, it’s a tough transition,” Garoppolo said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “It’s something Trey will learn as he goes, just like I did. … As far as teaching and Trey learning, the best way to learn is just to watch someone do it. To lead by example is what I’ve always done and I think it’s the best situation.” Garoppolo said he’s not annoyed at some labeling him injury prone, acknowledging that “injuries happen in the NFL,” as was the case with his 2018 anterior cruciate ligament tear that cost 13 games and last season’s high-ankle injuries that limited him to six starts.
Asked whether he anticipated a Patriots return this offseason, Garoppolo replied: “I don’t know. We never really got to cross that bridge. You never know where your path is going to take you in the NFL. I thought I’d be in New England my entire career. That didn’t go as planned. It’s one of those businesses you’ve got to be ready for anything.” He was ready for Shanahan’s odd comment last Monday in response to a question about whether Garoppolo would still be with the 49ers by the end of the draft. The coach noted he couldn’t guarantee if anyone would be alive by Sunday, much less if Garoppolo would be on the roster.
“I know Kyle pretty well. I knew what he was trying to say, when he says that,” Garoppolo said. “I don’t know if he worded it the proper way. It definitely made for a good headline.”
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Read more at: San Francisco 49ers Media Services / More AP NFL
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the San Francisco 49ers, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
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