And here you thought the Aaron Rodgers-to-San Francisco 49ers chatter was over.
I'll preface this by saying what Jason Smith of FOX Sports Radio said about the 49ers and the Green Bay Packers quarterback might be the most ridiculous thing you read today. Now that you have been sufficiently warned, brace yourself, and proceed, if you wish.
Smith believes San Francisco remains interested in Rodgers, and drafting Trey Lance of North Dakota State with the No. 3 overall pick last week hasn't changed that. Now, any rational reporter or fan clearly understands that the Niners heard about the disgruntled Green Bay quarterback and did their due diligence, as head coach Kyle Shanahan explained, reaching out to the Packers before being quickly shot down. They then proceeded with their plan to draft the prospect they felt was best suited to be their long-term answer at quarterback.
Smith, however, believes that San Francisco drafted Lance knowing that it could use the young prospect in a package for the reigning league MVP. Now, he also states that he doesn't believe that was the sole reason for drafting Lance. The 49ers genuinely like their new rookie and loved him for months leading to March 26's trade from No. 12 to No. 3.
49ers tried to trade for Aaron Rodgers pre-draft using #3 pick. Then they draft Trey Lance. So are they no longer interested in Rodgers? Of course they are. Lance was drafted as the 'biggest asset' at #3 that they can play OR flip for Rodgers.
— Jason Smith (@howaboutafresca) May 6, 2021
"Right now, these teams (including the Denver Broncos) are waiting," Smith said on his radio show, Jason Smith Show. "They're waiting for the Packers to come back to them."
Smith wonders if Lance is the future for the 49ers or if he was the best asset the team could acquire that also could be used as an enticing trade option.
"You have all these other quarterbacks that are much more ready to play than Trey Lance," Smith continues. "... But Trey Lance has the highest ceiling. Here's the thing, when you pick a quarterback that early, if he's not ready, he's not good, that gets you fired. That's what happens in the NFL."
Smith feels the Packers, once they accept that Rodgers has no intention of returning, will look to receive a quarterback as part of any trade package and won't simply go with Jordan Love.
"So, is Trey Lance really the future (for San Francisco), or is he someone that can be the future or the big trade chip for Aaron Rodgers?" Smith added. "Because that's another big thing. If they wanted to go all-in to get Aaron Rodgers before the draft, that hasn't changed. There's no way they said, 'Well, we've got Trey Lance. Now, we're moving on.' ... Watch out. Trey Lance is not set in stone (that) he'll take his first snap for the 49ers in the NFL."
Realistically, wild speculation aside, Rodgers is no longer an option for the 49ers — if he ever was going to be — and the team will likely stick with Lance as its quarterback of the future after making him the No. 3 overall pick.