Predicting 49ers 2021 starting offensive, defensive starting lineups

49ers Quarterbacks

Trey Lance (Rookie)

A common refrain when Trey Lance was drafted by the 49ers with the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft was his necessity to mature as a backup. The established rationale behind it was rather basic: Lance as a rookie was obviously raw and unrefined because he had played so little and couldn’t get up to the speeds of the NFL because he played at an FCS program. Now he was going to be thrust into a contending situation dealing with an offensive playbook considered one of the most elaborate in the entire league.

It made perfect sense to consider Jimmy Garoppolo the starter heading into this offseason, and even now, there’s a good chance Jimmy G will be taking snaps under center come Week 1. Lance still hasn’t faced live action.

However, the biggest reason Lance shouldn’t start isn’t because of some arbitrary necessity for maturity. It’s because he needs to fix his throwing mechanics to maximize his accuracy.

Reports from OTAs by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler indicated the Niners have worked to clean up those aspects of Lance’s game. Video evidence, although in shorts, show that Lance has been able to reduce both the dip in his elbow and his hip when throwing, allowing a more crisp placement of the ball.

Additionally, in the case of understanding the playbook, Lance has reportedly been through a full install of the playbook (h/t Niners Wire). Does that mean he knows it perfectly? No. But that’s a level of understanding unprecedented for a rookie, and given how Garoppolo has never seemed to have a complete grasp on the playbook itself, it levels the playing field significantly.

There is no question Lance is the most talented quarterback the 49ers have, and it is a matter of when, not if, he starts.

If these offseason developments continue to progress, the when might become Week 1.