49ers roster: 5 players whose stock is falling ahead of training camp

No. 1: 49ers quarterback Trey Lance

Yes, Trey Lance falls on this list.

It's not wholly his fault. After redshirting his rookie year following San Francisco's lofty draft investment in him from 2021, Lance suffering a broken ankle in Week 2 of what was supposed to be his first full year starting essentially upended all plans for him to become the franchise quarterback the 49ers envisioned him being.

Now, it appears as if Brock Purdy is "the guy" moving forward.

But Purdy is still on the mend from offseason elbow surgery, and he might not be back in time for the regular season, which leaves Lance in a direct competition with one of the Niners' other offseason pickups, Sam Darnold, who was also a No. 3 overall draft choice but from 2018.

Not unlike Jake Moody and Zane Gonzalez, neither Darnold nor Lance truly separated from the other during OTAs and minicamp.

Darnold, who is trying to resurrect his own career, doesn't have much to lose and is arguably in the best context since going pro.

Lance, meanwhile, needed to wholly outshine Darnold in whatever situation, and that reportedly isn't happening.

Not good for the No. 3 overall pick from the 2021 draft with training camp not far away.

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