49ers roster: Predicting 2022 starting offensive lineup

As the NFL enters the doldrums of the offseason, Niner Noise takes a stab at who will be in the 49ers starting 2022 offensive lineup.

The San Francisco 49ers enter a major stage of transition on the offensive side of the ball heading into 2022 with major shifts in perhaps the two most important position groups.

That doesn’t change the fact, though, that this team is in the middle of a Super Bowl contention window, and these young players will be forced to produce.

It creates an additional dynamic for the team, but with the amount of talent starting at other positions on offense, all in all, the Niners should be fielding an above-average offensive group.

Let’s see whom head coach Kyle Shanahan will likely run out onto the field with the starters for the upcoming season.

49ers Quarterback: Trey Lance

The 49ers have made it repeatedly known their starting quarterback for 2022 season will be Trey Lance. From Shanahan’s comments all but confirming veteran signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo will unlikely be on the roster come the regular season (h/t NBC Sports) to the entire franchise’s outward compliments of the young starter, it would take either a colossal collapse by Lance in training camp or a serious injury for this to change.

Although the questions of who will play aren’t all that interesting, there will be several questions about Lance’s play over the course of the season.

Garoppolo, for all of his warts and flaws, won football games. Last year, the Niners were 10 minutes away from a Super Bowl appearance. And while it’s necessary to keep perspective on a second-year player taking his first consistent snaps in the NFL, San Francisco is trying to win now.

Lance’s play, now and in the future, will be a primary factor for that.