In a shocking turn of events, the San Francisco 49ers decided to take North Dakota State standout Trey Lance with the third overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, rather than Mac Jones, as most experts expected.
Lance is one of the most promising players in this year's draft. However, given the lack of reps and snaps he played during his days in college, most analysts presume that he'll need one year or two before being ready.
That's why all the rumors of the 49ers trading away Jimmy Garoppolo were shut down in the blink of an eye, as it's now clear that Jimmy will continue to lead the offense while Lance patiently waits for his turn.
Trey Lance Says He Wants To Be Close To Jimmy Garoppolo
So, when asked about whether he felt like he needed to compete for a starting job right now, the young gunslinger simply said that he's looking forward to getting to know Garoppolo and learning the ups and downs of being an NFL quarterback:
“Honestly, I’m not really worried about it right now. Right now. I’m just focused on getting there, learning as much as I possibly can. Getting to know Jimmy and the guys in the room and learning. Getting to know him, becoming close with him and like I said, just learning as much as I can. Then at that point, obviously competing," Lance said, according to the 49ers' official website.
Lance is well aware of the 'red flags' above his head and how hard he'll have to work before being ready to become a starter in the league. Then again, he doesn't seem worried or hurried about that:
"Yeah, absolutely. It's kind of the same stuff, this whole process and I understand it's a critiquing process, because that's what it is. It's probably the longest job interview that I have ever had or longer than I ever thought that I'd have, but I don't think I could have been in a better situation. Like I said, just super excited to get there and learn and at this point, like I said, the biggest thing for me is just getting there. Getting to know the coaching staff, and my teammates and the guys in the quarterback room," Lance concluded.
There's no denying that Trey Lance has all the physical tools and skills to become a franchise player, given enough time to develop. Hopefully, that'll be the case and we'll witness another superstar in the making.
