LISTEN: The 49ers Season Is Over →

Colts agreed with 49ers on Trey Lance, labeling the QB with this honor

May 17, 2021 at 10:18 AM


placeholder image

D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports

Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.

Last week, San Francisco 49ers assistant general manager Adam Peters spoke with The Athletic and shared several interesting draft-related tidbits, one of which was identifying the two drafted prospects who earned the team's rare "gold helmet" designation.

Heading into a draft, about 15-20 prospects earn the designation, which is reserved for those who are "exemplary" in several areas, including leadership and intelligence. Lance, who the 49ers selected No. 3 overall, and safety Talanoa Hufanga, a fifth-round pick, were the two who earned the designation from the 49ers and ended up being selected by the team.

The idea of such a designation is not unique to the 49ers. Nor is it a new concept. Several other teams do it as well. They just call it something different. For example, the Ravens use a "star" designation for the players they are in love with — regardless of what round they are projected to be selected.

The Indianapolis Colts use the "blue card" designation, and, apparently, labeled Trey Lance with it.

"Peter King wrote that (Colts GM Chris) Ballard said that when 'we're in draft meetings, we talk about a player's character at length, in terms of if he fits on our board," Guy Haberman explained on the latest Haberman and Middlekauff podcast. "'If a player meets our strict criteria in terms of his football character, he gets a blue card. We might have 10 or 12 blue cards in the entire draft ... and we want to pick as many of these players as we can.'

"A Colts fan noticed that in a Colts video, a blurry version of the draft room showed they had two players taken in the first round [labeled] blue-card players. Two of the players taken in the first round are blue card players — Trey Lance and DeVonta Smith were the two blue-card players that the Colts had on the board."

Haberman is referring to a draft war room video that showed the draft board blurred out, but you could still make out a blue card next to the names of the players selected at Nos. 3 and 10 overall, which were Lance and Smith.

"The blurry version of the draft board indicated two players in the first round were blue-card players — Trey Lance and DeVonta Smith," added Haberman while reading a Reddit post from a fan. "... If Ballard loved one of your guys, it's not the same as any random GM loving one of your guys."

That fan is referring to this video, and you can see the designation (further explained here) on the draft board at about the 5:12 mark. It would seem that the Colts felt the same way about Lance as the 49ers, handing the former North Dakota State star one of their most prestigious internal pre-draft designations.

You can listen to the entire Haberman and Middlekauff podcast below. The portion about Lance and the Colts begins at the 39:50 mark.

Enjoy this article? Follow us to never miss more!

Powered by Follow.it


Comments

More San Francisco 49ers News

placeholder image

49ers mailbag: What do the 49ers have left in the tank for the last four games? Will SF bring back Robert Saleh? Can Brock Purdy beat good teams?

By Marc Adams
Dec 11

It's always a big week when the San Francisco 49ers play the Los Angeles Rams. In 2021, the rivalry became even bigger when the 49ers had to win in the season's final week, in Los Angeles, to make it into the playoffs. On Thursday night, the 49ers must win again to keep their...


placeholder image

49ers vs. Rams injury updates: Ji'Ayir Brown questionable to return

By David Bonilla
Dec 12

The San Francisco 49ers entered Thursday night's NFC West showdown against the Los Angeles Rams without key players, most notably left tackle Trent Williams, who is sidelined for the fourth straight game with an ankle injury. On defense, standout rookie safety Malik Mustapha...


placeholder image

Pelissero: 49ers' Brock Purdy likely to pursue top-market contract

By David Bonilla
6 hrs

As the San Francisco 49ers' 2024 season winds down, all eyes are shifting toward what could be the offseason's biggest storyline: Brock Purdy's contract extension. The topic has already generated significant buzz, with many experts predicting that Purdy will reset the...


placeholder image

49ers vs. Bears final injury report: Williams won't play, Bosa doubtful

By David Bonilla
Dec 6

The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for their Week 14 contest against the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Both teams have released their official injury reports, which are provided below. San Francisco 49ers Out LB Dre Greenlaw...


Latest

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone