49ers NFL Draft: 4 teams that regret not taking Trey Lance
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: Detroit Lions needed a centerpiece for their rebuild
One of the best ways to intrigue a rebuilding team’s fanbase is to grab a high-profile quarterback right away, precisely what the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets did with quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson, respectively, although it made sense why those two were the first names off the board anyway.
The Detroit Lions, trying to right the ship under first-year head coach Dan Campbell, had already traded away their star quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams in a package that included getting back fellow QB Jared Goff.
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Singed through 2024 with his new team, Goff’s current contract nevertheless holds zero in guarantees in 2023, meaning a selection of someone like Trey Lance could have led to a situation where Detroit would have finally been far along in the rebuild by the time Lance, who would have had to fall to No. 7 overall, would be ready to go.
Because let’s face it, Goff isn’t it for a playoff-challenging contender. A good bridge, perhaps, but that’s it.
The Lions didn’t panic when San Francisco grabbed Lance, instead focusing on a proper “rebuild in the trenches” move by landing former Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell instead.