Trey Lance is generating a lot of buzz coming out of Santa Clara. That's a testament to the impressive skillset of the San Francisco 49ers' No. 3 overall draft pick. The rookie quarterback has looked spectacular during training camp, leading many to wonder if he is ahead of schedule in his development.
While coaches have complimented Lance, they have also done what they can to slow down the Trey Lance Hype Train, which at times seems to be speeding away—almost dangerously—at full capacity.
"I thought he had a decent day," head coach Kyle Shanahan said of Lance this week after the quarterback had what appeared to others as a near-flawless practice. "I thought he did good with his reps, not perfect. But we're just evaluating everybody right now."
While the coaches downplay things, which is probably for the best, the reactions by Lance's teammates during practices have made it clear that the 49ers might have something special in their young quarterback.
"Oh yeah, Trey's off to a great start," All-Pro tight end George Kittle said during an interview on the Candlestick Chronicles podcast. "I mean, I love watching him play football. I loved watching his North Dakota State highlights. He's a baller. He really is. It's fun to watch him play football."
Kittle admits that Lance's age, 21, is still shocking to the 27-year-old tight end, who was 23 years old when the 49ers made him a fifth-round draft pick in 2017.
"When I turned 21, I was still in college at Iowa, trying to figure out a way to get on a college football field," Kittle shared, "and he is in the NFL on the San Francisco 49ers. So, we're in much different spots (compared to) when I was that age."
Lance doesn't just impress Kittle on the practice field. The tight end also acknowledged the rookie's ability to absorb all of the information being thrown at him during his first NFL offseason. Lance appears to be handling it well, proving himself to be among the team's hardest workers.
"He is taking in all the information, whether it's good or bad, and he's filtering it out and learning how to be a better football player every single day," Kittle said, "and learning how to take care of his body so he can continue to play at a high level. And I think he's very responsible and mature for his age, so it's fun to have conversations with him.
"... But I like watching him play football. He's got an absolute cannon. And I like guys that take risks, even if he could throw an interception or the ball gets batted down, he's going to sling it in there, and I really appreciate that about him."
There was a lot of concern that the drafting of Jimmy Garoppolo's successor might create an awkward situation within the locker room. Garoppolo is well-liked by his teammates. But it wasn't just that. What about the dynamic within the quarterback room? Would Garoppolo be willing to serve as a mentor for his eventual replacement?
The answer is yes.
Lance's new teammates, including Garoppolo, welcomed him with open arms from the start. In fact, Garoppolo was the first 49ers player to reach out on draft night to welcome Lance to the team.
"I don't think I've really noticed any awkwardness," Kittle said. "... I couldn't tell the difference between this year and like two years ago."
Last year, of course, was very different due to the heavy restrictions amid the pandemic. This year, however, well over 90 percent of the team is vaccinated, and things have (mostly) returned to normal for those who chose to protect themselves and those around them.
Kittle feels the locker room isn't just filled with high-talent individuals. It's filled with high-character ones too. That has created one of the best team environments in the NFL.
"I haven't really noticed anything (awkward)," Kittle continued, "and that's a testament to both Jimmy for being a professional and being an adult because I don't know why you'd want to make it awkward. You're out there, and you're living your dream life. You're competing your tail off every single day, and what you put on tape is really up to you."
Kittle adds: "I think Trey and Jimmy have a very unique relationship. I watch them. They go to meetings together. They talk. They always have fun with each other. So, there's not really any awkwardness out there for me."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Kittle below.