Most expect Trey Lance to be the San Francisco 49ers' starting quarterback in 2022. The former No. 3 overall pick started just two games last season but is slated to succeed the team's starter of the past four-and-a-half seasons, Jimmy Garoppolo.
What can fans expect from the 22-year-old quarterback after he made just 71 pass attempts in year one? The Draft Network shared its projection for Lance. The respected draft site envisions the young 49ers quarterback throwing for 3,998 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions while adding 706 rushing yards and three rushing scores.
#FTTB pic.twitter.com/8S0w5sgZ5l
— The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) May 26, 2022
That would be the most passing yards by a 49ers quarterback since Steve Young's 4,023-yard campaign in 1993, topping the 3,978-yard season Jimmy Garoppolo had in 2019. It would rank Lance fourth all-time in 49ers history for single-season passing yards. Fans would probably welcome such numbers from the second-year player.
There has been a lot of offseason speculation surrounding Lance and the quarterback's readiness to take over as the leader of head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense. While Lance has his skeptics, teammates, coaches, and management have expressed confidence in him. The quarterback isn't too concerned about the outside noise.
"In the most respectful way possible, it doesn't change how I feel about you guys as people, but it's not my job to care what you guys say," Lance told reporters last week. "Or anyone else on social media. For me, I care what the guys in the locker room think, what my coaching staff thinks. At the end of the day, that's my job.
"You guys, unfortunately, aren't the ones making decisions for me or really have any effect on me, again, in the most respectful way possible. But I know everyone's got strong opinions one way or the other. Like I said, I'm going to go out and try to prove people wrong, prove myself right. But I'm doing it for the guys in the locker room."
