San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York recently spoke with NBC Sports Bay Area and called the team's decision to hold onto Jimmy Garoppolo while drafting his replacement an investment in Trey Lance's future. Basically, that means York had no problem holding onto the veteran quarterback and his hefty salary if it means affording Lance the luxury of sitting, learning, and eventually being better for it.
"So, for us, if you invest $25 (million) or $50 million into your rookie to get them ready, then to me, we're investing in the long-term future of our team," York told Matt Maiocco. "And you never want to put somebody out there, especially a guy who you heard the sort of parlance about Trey, [that] he hasn't played as much.
Those $25 million and $50 million figures come from Garoppolo's salary over the next year or two. York knows what Lance could mean for the team's long-term success. However, the 49ers roster is built to win now, and that's not something the team should necessarily throw on the shoulders of a rookie.
On Thursday, York suggesting that the 49ers are fine sitting Lance for a year or two sparked discussion during an early segment on ESPN's NFL Live. Both Keyshawn Johnson and Dianna Russini felt the strategy was sound. Analyst Todd McShay, however, had a different opinion.
"Listen, I don't care about the message. I care about reality," McShay told Johnson, Russini, and host Laura Rutledge. "Yes, I understand, Trey Lance, 17 starts, FCS, only one game this past season. But when you study the tape, he processes as fast as Mac Jones from Alabama or any other quarterback in this entire class.
"And again, being real, the last 13 years, there's been 39 quarterbacks drafted in the first round. Only three of them did not start a game. So, history tells us it's a long shot that Lance is not going to start. I get it. Garoppolo is there. He can be a good starter when he's healthy, but he hasn't stayed healthy."
Including the playoffs, Garoppolo owns a 24-9 record as the 49ers' starting quarterback. He led the team to a Super Bowl during the 2019 season. However, he has also missed 23 games due to injuries over the past three seasons.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have been very transparent in sharing that Garoppolo's inability to stay on the field was the driving force behind the decision to trade up to draft a quarterback.
"First of all, I think they're going to try to work him in, regardless," McShay continued. "Second of all, there's a real good chance Jimmy G gets injured. Third of all, you don't trade all the way up, and even if it was for Mac Jones, and adjust your mindset because Trey Lance blew you away, and then not play him this upcoming season.
"I think Trey Lance is going to start more games than any other quarterback for San Fran."
H/t to Alex Didion of NBC Sports for the find.