These 49ers need to have epic bounce-back 2023 campaigns

No. 1: 49ers quarterback Trey Lance

Ah, yes. Time for a little controversy.

Do the 49ers continue to pin hopes on their prized investment from the 2021 NFL Draft, quarterback Trey Lance? Or will they turn to the final pick of the 2022 draft, Brock Purdy, whose rapid ascent in the latter half of last season catapulted him into the national spotlight?

It’s a good question.

Or is it? Purdy is going to be sidelined with a serious elbow injury suffered in the NFC Championship game last year, and he is in danger of missing the beginning of the regular season.

Lance, too, is coming off a broken ankle but should be ready for offseason workouts.

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That’ll give the No. 3 overall pick a leg up in the competition, yes. But it won’t mean much of anything if he ends up struggling when the games begin to get tough. Especially with Purdy already having proved some serious mettle and the Niners being in a situation where winning now matters above all else.

San Francisco will likely be more patient with Lance than anyone else on this list.

Yet he is still going to be under an immense amount of pressure to deliver in 2023.