49ers QB Trey Lance should demand a trade to one of these 4 teams
By Peter Panacy
It's looking more and more like Trey Lance won't be part of the 49ers' long-term plans, so he should take matters into his own hands.
There's still a shot that Trey Lance winds up securing the San Francisco 49ers' starting quarterback job.
The No. 3 overall pick from the 2021 NFL Draft, one for whom the Niners gave up so much in trade capital, would have to flash all the talent that hasn't readily been on display in either of the last two seasons (in 2021, because Jimmy Garoppolo was the starting quarterback, and in 2022, because of a season-ending ankle break in Week 2).
Additionally, Lance would have to completely outclass his training camp competition, Sam Darnold, while also either outproducing the presumed starter, Brock Purdy, or taking advantage of the fact Purdy is working his way back from his own serious injury, a torn UCL suffered last January.
The likelihood of any of those scenarios panning out, though, seems slim. On an increasing basis, it appears as if Lance will be more of an afterthought than an impact player for head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co.
From trade speculation and more, Lance's future is anything but certain. However, if he's staring at the reality of a QB3 role with San Francisco, Lance might as well head into the front office and demand an immediate trade to one of these four teams.
Trey Lance preferred trade destination No. 1: Minnesota Vikings
Originally from Marshall, Minnesota, Lance would likely relish the opportunity to play for his boyhood team, the Minnesota Vikings.
Who cares the Vikings still have veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins under contract for 2023. With him being a free agent next season, and signs pointing to Cousins not returning to Minnesota, Lance would merely have to wait on the bench for one more year to get his shot with the team he grew up rooting for as a kid.
A true heir apparent.
Beside, it wouldn't be vastly different than what he'd be expected to do with the 49ers, if he stayed put and ended up being QB2 or even QB3.
Except in Minnesota, he'd have a clearer path to QB1 than he would with the Niners.