With about a week to go until the 2023 NFL Draft, another massive wrench has been thrown into the equation. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that the San Francisco 49ers are fielding calls on former third overall pick Trey Lance. An important stipulation here is that the 49ers are not actively making calls and looking for a trade partner, but as of Wednesday morning, the team has received calls on the quarterback’s availability.
Trey Lance should have a number of teams interested despite his slow start to his career
Lance has unfortunately had a less-than-ideal start to his promising NFL career, starting in only four games through his first two seasons as a pro after sitting behind Jimmy Garoppolo as a rookie and suffering a season-ending ankle fracture during Week 2 of the 2022 season. However, there still seems to be a lot of hype around the league regarding the former North Dakota State standout. If it were not for the improbable success of seventh-round pick Brock Purdy, Lance would likely be penciled in as the starter in San Fran for 2023. However, even with Purdy’s elbow injury, Lance seems to be the odd-man-out for the 49ers, especially after signing veteran quarterback Sam Darnold in free agency, who was coincidentally the third overall pick by the New York Jets three years before the 49ers selected Lance in the same slot.
At the top of the 2023 NFL Draft, quarterbacks are slated to go early and often, but the 49ers, Lance, and a prospective trade partner could completely change everything we thought we knew about how the draft is going to shake out. It’s hard to know exactly what the 49ers could get in exchange for a player they gave up three first-round picks to trade up and select, but assuming the package is significantly less than that, here are seven teams that could acquire Lance on or before the draft and completely reshape the first round.
Houston Texans
The Texans are already reportedly prepared to draft a non-quarterback with the second overall pick, and a Trey Lance trade could completely change how this team would attack the top of the draft. If the Texans acquired Lance, they would likely be able to hold onto both the second and twelfth overall picks and with quarterback no longer being a need, the team could find two blue-chip players at the top of the draft, perhaps primarily on the defensive side, to help new head coach DeMeco Ryans kickstart his full circle rebuild.
Interestingly, Lance and Davis Mills were both selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, with the latter being selected at the top of the third round, so bringing in one of the most highly touted players to compete against a later-round sleeper could potentially elevate both young quarterbacks’ play.
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are currently in one of the more perplexing spots in the 2023 NFL Draft, as the team is in desperate need of finding a young quarterback to build around after plugging and playing veterans since Andrew Luck’s retirement, but depending on how the draft board shakes out in front of them, there is a chance that the top three quarterbacks on their board are taken before they are on the clock.
If Indy is left empty-handed in finding a quarterback at number four overall, trading for Lance might be the opportunity to finally find their franchise signal-caller. Anything that can be said about Anthony Richardson’s potential fit with the Colts and new head coach Shane Steichen can be said about Trey Lance, and Indianapolis could potentially acquire Lance while still maintaining the fourth overall pick, allowing them to address a different position of need, such as defensive end or cornerback. There certainly seems to be a sentiment that the Colts are finally looking for “their guy” in this draft, but depending on what happens in front of them, Lance might be the best decision moving forward for a team who should quickly be back in contention for the AFC South crown with solid quarterback play.
Las Vegas Raiders
The 49ers originally drafted Lance to sit behind Jimmy Garoppolo for a season before taking command of the offense. Just a few years later, the Raiders could attempt the same plan after signing the former 49ers veteran in free agency. Garoppolo certainly seems to be quarterback one for the Raiders in 2023, especially because the quarterback will be reuniting with his former Patriots offensive coordinator and current Raiders’ head coach Josh McDaniels. However, the team is not tied to the veteran beyond the 2024 season, so it is fairly reasonable to imagine a scenario where the Raiders acquire Lance to eventually join a talented offense that includes the likes of Davante Adams and Josh Jacobs.
This move could be a somewhat frustrating outcome for Lance, but there are worse veteran quarterbacks to sit behind and learn from than a player who took the 49ers to the Super Bowl just three years ago.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans have several holes on their roster that need to be addressed to get back to the top of the AFC, and while the quarterback position isn’t the biggest immediate need, a succession plan is necessary with veteran Ryan Tannehill entering the final year of his deal. With Malik Willis reportedly falling out of favor with the front office, trading for Lance could be the solution that the team thought they were getting in the third round just a year ago.
The Titans could be in play for a quarterback with the 11th overall pick if the right guy falls to them, but trading for Lance could free up that spot to add more talent elsewhere on the roster. Outside of last year’s first-round selection in Treylon Burks and a perennial All-Pro running back in Derrick Henry, the Titans offense doesn’t have a whole lot to work with, so adding a playmaker like Jaxon Smith-Njigba and then using a later-round pick to acquire Lance could quickly kickstart an offensive retooling in Tennessee.
Washington Commanders
The Commanders are one of the most quarterback-needy teams across the league, but with the 16th overall pick, there is little to no chance that Washington will be able to find their quarterback of the future without trading up several spots into the top of the draft. With a talented roster that appears to be on the cusp of breaking out in a loaded NFC East, bringing in Lance could help take their offense to the next level which is necessary to compete within their division.
Currently, the Commanders have veteran Jacoby Brissett and 2022 fifth-round pick Sam Howell on the roster, and while neither may be the long-term answer for the nation’s capital, Lance could be a perfect candidate to sit behind Brissett if necessary, or even start early in 2023. With a loaded receiver room and a dependable, downhill back in Brian Robinson Jr, Lance could wind up in a great position to immediately contribute to a quietly dynamic offense.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It’s not surprising for a team who lost a first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback to have some question marks at the position after his departure, but the Buccaneers nonetheless have some big questions behind center that will need to be sorted out if this team truly wishes to compete in 2023. The Buccaneers signed veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield to compete against former second-round pick Kyle Trask ahead of next season, but adding Lance could potentially lead to bringing in the best quarterback on the roster.
With Mayfield being a somewhat proven commodity and Trask being the opposite, Lance could be the highest upside option for a team who seems to be slowly deteriorating from their Super Bowl run just a few seasons ago. There are some holes on the roster, especially on the offensive side of the ball, but with solid receivers – when healthy – Tampa could be an interesting option for Lance to develop into a quality starter in the NFL.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings don’t have the biggest need for the quarterback, but with Kirk Cousins signed with the team only through the 2023 season, it might be time for Minnesota to think about a realistic succession plan. In this scenario, Cousins would almost undoubtedly remain the starter, but Lance could eventually take the reigns of an offense that features perhaps the best receiver in the NFL.
The Vikings have reportedly been interested in finding a high-ceiling quarterback in recent years, and Lance could be a great opportunity to add that type of player without having to give up too much premium draft capital. Like Garoppolo, there are certainly worst quarterbacks than Cousins to sit behind and learn from for a season or so, and adding some of Cousins’ consistency and fundamentals to a player with as high of a ceiling as Lance could be the answer to staying relevant at the position in a division that features three promising quarterbacks who are all under the age of 30.