“Put up or Shut Up” Which NFL Sophomore quarterback has the most to Prove?

Aug 4

*Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA TODAY Sports (Lawrence); D. Ross Cameron/USA TODAY Sports (Lance); Kamil Krzaczynski/USA TODAY Sports (Fields)*

The 2021 quarterback class has been an interesting one. In only their second year, there are already six of the 10 drafted quarterbacks who are projected to start for the NFL 2022 season.

These projected starting second year quarterbacks, Zach Wilson, Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Mac Jones, Davis Mills and Trey Lance are all in different situations, yet all have something to prove. However, the one with the most to prove is San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback Trey Lance.

Lance was drafted third overall in the 2021 NFL Draft after the Niners gave up three first-round picks from 2021 to 2023 and a 2022 compensatory third-round pick to get him. As seen, a lot went into getting Lance and 49ers general manager John Lynch and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan have high hopes for him.

In the 2021 season, Lance’s rookie season, he played six games and only started two of them. He went one-and-one in his two starts. The league and fans only got a small sample size of what he can do and cannot do.

Even though he did not play much, Lynch and Shanahan bought into Lance this offseason, letting the media and fans know he is their guy. The two even met with 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to let him know they are moving on from him per NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Garoppolo quarterbacked this team during their Super Bowl run in 2019 and to the NFC Championship game against the Los Angeles Rams in 2021.

Garoppolo’s numbers might have not been the most impressive during these runs, but ultimately, he game managed the team and got results.

When looking at the others, most of them will need time before their teams start competing. Mills, Lawrence, and Fields all have new coaches, which means they are basically starting over again. Just like Wilson, Jets head coach Robert Saleh is only in his second year of leading a team, so they are both in a learning process.

Jones with the Patriots is the only one in real contention with Lance. However, with Jones he at least played out his whole rookie season and made the playoffs. He will mainly need to prove he is able to replicate that again and so forth.

Given the situation, Lance has a lot more riding on his shoulders. The Niners were one game away from making the Super Bowl last season and now they are jumping ship to him. It is not expected of him to have a Joe Burrow like sophomore season. But with a lot of recent success, the Trey Lance experiment essentially must be a playoff appearance this season. The 49ers cannot afford to take a big step back.

From only playing in six games to now starting a whole 17 game season is a big ask for the second-year quarterback but it is the 49ers only option with Garoppolo’s imminent departure.

The 49ers’ roster is well built for contending and they also extended their main offensive weapon in wide receiver Deebo Samuel. The table is set for Lance. The front office and coaching staff have bought into him, now it is his time to prove himself.