49ers 4-round mock draft with surprising Trey Lance trade

The San Francisco 49ers look to repeat last year’s success, but this time with a Super Bowl berth. With Brock Purdy penciled in as the starter that doesn’t leave many reps left for Trey Lance. In this mock draft, the 49ers cut their losses and turn them into gains with a Lance trade on draft day.

The San Francisco 49ers have a roster full of playmakers. Those playmakers account for an explosive offense and a dominant defense.

In fact, if you look at the depth chart you’ll find Pro Bowlers and All-Pro’s at just about every position. Unfortunately, despite the talent they have across the board, injuries got the best of them last year, and their playoff hopes fell short.

So far this off-season, the 49ers have had a bit of a facelift, but where it matters the most, the right players still remain.

Currently, the 49ers don’t make a selection until the third round (99 overall.) But what if they could move up?

Last year, Brock Purdy emerged as the uncontested number one. So what if they moved Trey Lance? And, if they do whose scheme does he fit best in?

Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans needs a franchise quarterback, and right now the 49ers have two.

Trey Lance cost the franchise three first-round picks, and unfortunately, the gamble hasn’t yet paid off. The 49ers could keep him and run a two-quarterback offense, but what are the odds that their offense would be a success?

The simple truth is that every day that Lance is on the roster and doesn’t improve, he loses value. If Lance is a tradable asset then the time to trade him is now.

In this mock draft, the 49ers do the inevitable. They turn the page and recoup some value by trading Trey Lance in this 4-round mock draft.

49ers 2023 mock draft with a Trey Lance trade

The 49ers make a statement on draft day by trading Trey Lance for midlevel picks

This is the trade that fifty percent of fans say will never happen, and fifty percent are afraid will happen.

When the subject of trading Lance is brought up there are two very common rebuttals: The first is that he cost the franchise three first-round picks and no trade value less than that is worthy, and the other response is that Lance hasn’t had a chance to show the world what he can do.

The only worthy reply to either one of the aforementioned gripes is that the draft is a gamble and that football is a business. In fact, football and life have one major thing in common, they both aren’t always fair. Baring that in mind, in the spirit of business, let’s keep it moving.

The war room makes a second trade and secures a top-50 pick

In a rare but satisfying twist of events, general manager John Lynch swings two trades before making a selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. After trading away quarterback Trey Lance to the Houston Texans, he packages three picks, including one he received from Houston, and trades up to get into the second round of this year’s draft. After two successful trades, Lynch has netted a second-round pick (No. 42 Overall) and a third-rounder (No. 65 Overall) for Lance.

It’s not three first-rounders, but it doesn’t matter who the 49ers trade away on draft day or any day. No one on the roster would yield a king’s ransom such as that. Without further ado.

With the 42nd pick in the NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select:

Round 2, Pick No. 42 Overall: 49ers select OT Darnell Wright

Shortly after former right tackle Mike McGlinchey packed his bags and headed to Denver, news broke that the franchise we’re looking to move him during the last off-season. In light of that news, it would be safe to say that John Lynch had no intention of re-signing McGlinchey long before he put pen to paper for the Broncos.

While considering that news, two things come to mind. One, why was there no successor put in place for when he left? And two, the likelihood of them trading up and selecting an offensive tackle after netting a high pick becomes a greater possibility.

The talent in this year’s draft at offensive tackle is thin. That’s why if you’re going to pull the trigger on a trade to move up, you spend that early pick on the offensive line.

With any luck, when the 49ers pick in the second round, Wright will be there. The former Tennessee product is big, durable, and versatile.

With over 2700 snaps in his college career at both tackle positions Wright could make a difference in a hurry. In his senior season on the right side, Wright provided the ultimate in quarterback protection by surrendering zero quarterback sacks in 829 snaps.

Pairing Wright with All-Pro tackle Trent Williams will provide the ultimate protection on the outside. Adding in the interior front that already exists will give quarterback Brock Purdy an absolute wall to stand in front of. He’ll have all the time he needs to go through his progressions and safety will not be an issue.

Round 3, Pick No. 65 Overall: 49ers select CB DJ Turner

The San Francisco 49ers secondary looks to be completely different next year without cornerback Emmanuel Moseley and the additions of Myles Hartsfield and Isaiah Oliver.

With an overall like that, there’s simply no telling how the chemistry will be until they are all on the field together. No doubt they are all talented, but who will emerge as the number two option and start opposite Charvarius Ward?

If the 49ers can move up and somehow draft DJ Turner out of Michigan, the competition will be a whole lot more fierce.

Into 22 starts, Turner has never surrendered a QB rating of higher than 65.5. He’s speedy in coverage and an absolute lockdown option, as evident by his 4.26 speed in the 40-yard dash.

Turner was clocked running 23.07 mph, which should serve him well in man coverage, especially in downfield passing situations.

Turner is two things the 49ers need. Reliable and durable. He upgrades this secondary in a hurry just by being on the roster. The front seven will provide the rush, and Turner will neutralize the open man.

Round 3, Pick No. 101 Overall: 49ers select S Sydney Brown

Former Safety, Jimmie Ward was an absolute staple on the 49er’s defense for many seasons. His lockdown ability and heavy hitting will certainly be missed.

Starting in his absence is Tashaun Gipson, the front office re-signed him to a one-year deal after a great season operating in the rotation.

Lining up next to him is the future of the secondary, third-year man Talanoa Hufanga. In his first full season as a starter, he turned in a Pro Bowl season to remember. To put it plainly, every game was a highlight reel as he locked down opposing offenses with ease.

The 49ers have their starters, but you can never have enough depth in the league. And, at 32 years of age, Gipson will need a viable replacement when he steps down. That’s if the 49ers re-sign him beyond 2023.

Sydney Brown is the definition of value. He’s a projected third-round pick but certainly does not play like it. He put on a clinic at the combine with an explosive (4.47) 40-yard dash, an 87th percentile ten-yard split, and a 96th percentile vertical.

He covers like a corner and hits like a linebacker. Brown tracks the ball well against the pass and gives up his body freely in run support.

He and Hufanga will be an absolute nightmare in the NFC West. If the former Illinois product is still there at pick number 101, the 49ers must make it their priority to go all in on acquiring him.

He’s the real deal.

Round 3, Pick No. 102 Overall: 49ers select CB Julius Brents

I know what you’re thinking. Another Corner? But there are many reasons why this pick makes sense, and why three of the first four selections are defensive backs.

First, how many seasons have the 49ers needed a cornerback or safety and the need wasn’t addressed or the pick was underwhelming, to say the least? Second, outside of Charvius Ward, who on the secondary could stand alone as CB1? Isaiah Oliver has tremendous upside, but as of now, for San Francisco, is unproven.

Ambry Thomas, Deommodore Lenoir, and Sam Womack have all had their moments, but none of them have proven that they can be full-time starters.

Next, this is a very deep class for the secondary, and if Brents can transition into the NFL as analysts are predicting then a 1-2 punch between him and D.J. Turner would be one of epic proportions.

Brents covers his man like a blanket and lays the wood without regard for human safety. Not to mention his versatility is an asset that teams can not ignore. With his ability to play safety as well as a cornerback, he’s a plug-and-play prospect that can be utilized all over the secondary.

The time to stock up on talent is now and Julius Brents is worthy of more than a look. He’s a potential day-one starter.