We’ve taken a look at the 49ers’ 2022 NFL Draft class in training camp, but let’s see how the stock is performing for Trey Lance and other second-year pros.
It’s always fun to take a look at rookies during their first training camp, and the San Francisco 49ers have already featured some promising moments from a handful of their 2022 NFL Draft class, particularly EDGE Drake Jackson.
Yet first-year players are frequently outmatched during camp, and particularly with the Niners’ 2022 class, most of those players are expected to fill reserve roles in year one.
That’s not the case with San Francisco’s 2021 NFL Draft class one year later.
A sizable chunk of the 49ers’ second-year pros are expected to make massive leaps this season, some of them poised to start in prominent roles after largely serving as backups or ancillary pieces in 2021.
So, what about them? How are those players from the Niners’ 2021 draft performing in their second training camp?
Let’s do a second-year stock watch for these San Francisco sophomores.
49ers training camp stock watch: QB Trey Lance
Quarterback Trey Lance is entering his first year as the unquestioned 49ers starter, and as has been expected, there are some growing pains.
Completing roughly 50 percent of his passes in camp against what’s shaping up to be a top-quality Niners defense, Lance has been able to make some highlight-reel throws but against the backdrop of a questionable offensive line and trying to live up to the expectations of being the No. 3 overall draft pick a year ago.
Simply put, it’s been a mixed bag.
Trey Lance's stats in Training Camp:
— Rohan Chakravarthi (@RohanChakrav) August 4, 2022
44/86(51.2%)
5 TDs(1 rush)
4 INTs
6 drops
1 throwaway
2 batted passes
8 PBUs
Note that several INCs were accurately-placed balls and the defense won the play with a PBU. Take that as you wish.#49wz
This isn’t a disappointment, though. To quote Lance’s top wide receiver, Deebo Samuel, the quarterback “is getting smarter by the day.”
Lance needs to go through these mistakes and learn from them. That’s a positive. Yet there are going to be concerns in the wake of Lance not completely “taking over” training camp, meaning his stock value is about even from where it was when practices first started.
Stock: Even
49ers training camp stock watch: OL Aaron Banks
San Francisco effectively handed the starting left guard spot to last year’s Round 2 pick, offensive lineman Aaron Banks, who saw a mere five regular-season snaps his rookie season and was generally viewed as an immediate bust as a result.
Not so fast, perhaps, as Banks wasn’t going to unseat Pro Bowl left guard Laken Tomlinson. Yet with Tomlinson now with the New York Jets, the 49ers’ plan all along seems to be sliding Banks into that role in year two.
That alone is an easy reason why Banks’ stock value is on the ascent after such a disappointing rookie season. It’d be hard for him to fall much lower than his end-of-2021 stock value, and getting all the first-team reps during training camp is notable.
However, Banks is still struggling with anchoring his feet and has been susceptible to power rushes from an admittedly potent Niners defensive line.
From that vantage point, the former Notre Dame lineman still has a way to go before being a reliable starter, but he’s at least getting all the opportunity needed to hone his skills.
Stock: Up
49ers training camp stock watch: RB Trey Sermon
Like Aaron Banks, running back Trey Sermon‘s rookie year couldn’t be classified as anything else but a disappointment.
Initially tabbed as an RB2 behind then-starter Raheem Mostert, Sermon’s 167 rush yards in 2021 were massively underwhelming, and it didn’t help he was relegated to the back end of the depth chart in favor of fellow rookie runner Elijah Mitchell not long after Mostert suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 1.
Perhaps understanding he’d be under the microscope, especially in the wake of San Francisco adding another running back this year in Tyrion Davis-Price, Sermon’s response so far in training camp has been solid.
Trey Sermon is having the best training camp practice of his career today
— Jordan Elliott (@splash_cousin) August 2, 2022
He looks incredible out there, running with power and conviction, being decisive with his cuts, and displayig explosion when bouncing to the outside
The decisiveness was an issue Sermon dealt with his rookie year, so it’s good to see that developing positively. And while this might not be enough to overtake Mitchell on the depth chart, the trend should help the former Ohio State running back find a quality niche role in the running back rotation.
Definitely positive news for Sermon.
Stock: Up
49ers training camp stock watch: CB Ambry Thomas
Late in the regular season last year, cornerback Ambry Thomas looked as if he was climbing out of the depths of being a third-round draft bust and into the conversation of potentially starting for the 49ers his second year.
While the addition of fellow corner Charvarius Ward this offseason likely thwarted those hopes, Thomas’ work during training camp has reflected more of his early rookie-year struggles than the promising play he displayed down the stretch.
Aside from a handful of pass breakups and an interception to boot during camp, Thomas has regularly been susceptible to giving up chunk plays, both in one-on-one drills and team exercises.
Heading into the third week of camp, Thomas has been relegated to the third-string defense, which isn’t a good look for his chances.
Read More: 5 Niners who aren’t helping their roster chances in training camp
Assuming the Niners keep five cornerbacks on their 53-man roster, and knowing both Ward and Emmanuel Moseley are all but locked in, Thomas may have a tough time trying to overtake fellow corners like Jason Verrett, Samuel Womack, Darqueze Dennard, Deommodore Lenoir, Dontae Johnson and Tariq Castro-Fields, among others.
Stock: Down
49ers training camp stock watch: OL Jaylon Moore
A year ago, San Francisco wanted to take offensive lineman Jaylon Moore and turn him from a tackle into a guard, yet the rookie ended up serving in a number of reserve roles, only to be flushed out from primary swing-tackle duties by now-Denver Broncos lineman Tom Compton.
It might be too much to expect a lot out of a fifth-round NFL Draft pick in year two, let alone year one, but Moore seems to be on the stronger side of the bubble despite the 49ers having some issues with their O-line depth this year once again.
Primarily working out with the second-string O-line during camp, Moore will occasionally be tabbed with first-team tackle duties on rest days for starting tackles, Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey, which is a good sign for Moore.
The only issue, however, is the second-year pro’s efforts in these roles haven’t exactly been great, and he’s been regularly overpowered by the Niners’ stout pass-rushers off the edge.
Granted, having to line up against EDGE Nick Bosa isn’t an easy task, but Moore hasn’t completely separated himself from the competition either.
Stock: Even
49ers training camp stock watch: CB Deommodore Lenoir
Heading into training camp, the stockpiling of cornerbacks was going to make it awfully tough for Deommodore Lenoir to carve out a roster spot this season, especially after he trended in the opposite direction of Ambry Thomas over the course of 2021.
Now, however, it appears as if the roles have fully reversed. It’s Thomas who is on the decline, while Lenoir seems to be playing with a massive sense of urgency.
#49ers CB Deommodore Lenoir had an impressive day of practice today. He’s been consistently sticking out over the last few days.
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) August 3, 2022
Whether it be recording interceptions or pass breakups, Lenoir is putting himself in line to be a primary backup to other corners like Charvarius Ward and Emmanuel Moseley, shedding the struggles he had after what was an impressive preseason a year ago.
San Francisco might be in a position where it has to decide between Thomas and Lenoir for a final roster spot.
So far, it’s looking as if Lenoir is soundly winning that battle.
Stock: Up
49ers training camp stock watch: S Talanoa Hufanga
Former USC defensive back Talanoa Hufanga’s stock watch was already on the rise during offseason workouts weeks before training camp, thanks largely to the 49ers bidding farewell to veteran Jaquiski Tartt and essentially handing Hufanga the first-string strong safety spot.
Hufanga’s relative lack of athleticism and straight-line speed might be a liability once the regular season commences, and he has been credited with allowing some key catches off the hand of Trey Lance.
Fortunately for Hufanga, though, it’s been rare for him to allow chunk plays. That was the primary concern.
Partially, the Niners have let Hufanga play to his strengths by relegating him to in-the-box duties while allowing veteran defensive back Tarvarius Moore to assume a third-safety big-nickel role further down the field.
In tandem with free safety Jimmie Ward, this approach might work and could take advantage of Hufanga’s better attributes.
Good news for him.
Stock: Up
49ers training camp stock watch: RB Elijah Mitchell
Much of the focus for San Francisco at running back in training camp has centered on Trey Sermon, Tyrion Davis-Price and an undrafted rookie, Jordan Mason, who has been impressing all offseason.
This has somewhat left Elijah Mitchell, who rushed for a whopping 963 yards over 11 games his rookie year, out of the discussion.
Not for bad reasons, though. Mitchell is about as safe a lock on the roster as Trey Lance or any of the other high-profile players likely to assume prominent roles in 2022.
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The 49ers have been limiting Mitchell’s work during camp at times, likely understanding he does carry some injury risk after missing six games last season and with the knowledge that his impact could very well be similar to what was seen a year ago.
Perhaps better.
Mitchell’s role for 2022 was effectively defined last season, and that hasn’t changed. While the Niners will still employ a halfback rotation, Mitchell is still projected to be their leading rusher.
No change in stock value, but his stock was already high to begin with.
Stock: Even