49ers roster: 5 players who must make massive leap in 2022

49ers roster player No. 1: Quarterback Trey Lance

No other player on San Francisco’s roster will carry as much attention regarding the team’s immediate future than quarterback Trey Lance.

Lance, now the heir apparent in the wake of soon-to-be-traded quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, carries with him the weight of being the No. 3 overall draft pick from 2021 and the future of the organization under center, particularly in light of the 49ers giving up two additional first-round picks to grab him last spring.

Whether it was the right move or not, the Niners elected to keep Garoppolo as the starter for the vast majority of last season, only letting Lance see the field for some scant special-package plays for the first half of the year and over two starts when Jimmy G was injured, those in which Lance posted a 1-1 record and tossed two touchdowns against two interceptions.

Flashes of brilliance and playmaking skills were certainly there from Lance, but there were also moments where it was apparent he had attempted a mere 318 passes at the collegiate level, too.

Needless to say, the offseason will be vital for Lance to hone his technique and understanding of the pro-level game.

Not only to justify that lofty draft investment but also to helm San Francisco into a new era for the foreseeable future.

It’ll be a lot of pressure.