What 49ers’ Trey Lance selection means for Jimmy Garoppolo

The 49ers drafted quarterback Trey Lance and immediately put Jimmy Garoppolo’s future into question.

The San Francisco 49ers ended all the drama and speculation by drafting Trey Lance with the No. 3 overall pick. The North Dakota State product is still only 20 years old and played in one game last season. But clearly he showed enough to be taken so high.

This pick immediately put Jimmy Garoppolo’s future in San Francisco into question. His name was in trade rumors leading up to the draft, and some fans may still be waiting for one. However, Lance’s youth likely means Garoppolo sticks around and starts the 2021 season.

The 49ers can have both Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo in 2021

Garoppolo has two years remaining on his current deal. He took the 49ers to the Super Bowl during the 2019 season and dealt with injuries last season. So a losing record for the 49ers was not entirely the fault of the quarterback.

Drafting Lance so high still shows Garoppolo is not the long-term answer for this franchise. But if he can have one or two solid seasons, Lance could still make his debut at a young age in a few years. This is also a much better alternative than throwing a rookie into the fire if the goal is indeed to win this season.

Lance made a name for himself in 2019 by throwing for 2,786 yards and running for another 1,100. But his one game played in 2020, because of COVID-19 moving the FCS season to spring, means he is going to need plenty of reps to get up to speed.

The 49ers could still end up trading Garoppolo to a team desperate for quarterback help. But the likelihood of that happening decreases with each passing pick in the first round.