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Trey Lance started just two games last season, his rookie campaign with the San Francisco 49ers. He is poised to take over for the team's starter of the past four-and-a-half seasons, Jimmy Garoppolo.
The 49ers have reached the Super Bowl with Garoppolo helming the offense. In addition, the team has twice appeared in the NFC Championship Game over the past three seasons. The roster remains stacked with talent, so there are lofty expectations internally—and for many externally.
Lance is just 22 years old, so some will caution fans to temper their expectations. Lance could have a shockingly great first year as a starter. However, it's more likely that there will be some growing pains through the course of the season.
On Friday, Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young joined KNBR and explained why the 49ers shouldn't lower their expectations just because they have a relatively inexperienced quarterback set to lead the offense.
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"The good news is you have a great team, and I believe the most innovative offense in the league," Young responded on the
Tolbert & Copes show when asked what defines a successful 2022 season for Lance. "… With that, a roster that can go—sign
Deebo [Samuel] and get everyone back—a roster that can go to the Super Bowl. With that in mind, that's the expectation.
"So now, the referendum comes down on you as the quarterback. You have a Super Bowl team. What's a successful season? I think that we should take the season and say it's a disappointment if we don't go the distance. I think we have to have that in our mindset. It doesn't happen every year.
"We've seen for the last 25, you don't win the Super Bowl every year, even over decades. But I think you have to have that in mind because that's who this team is, and I think that's who these coaches are. I think they brought in Trey because they think it's the extra step to get to that Super Bowl championship."
Young has previously said he had discussions with Lance and has praised the young quarterback's potential and ability to absorb information. He believes Lance should welcome the challenge of lofty expectations.
"I think Trey should embrace that," Young said. "'Look, they expected me to be great, so let's go be great.'… That's a hard ask for a young player that hasn't played a lot, so we get that. But I don't think we should just say, 'Oh, let's just throw away the season,' or, 'A successful season is 9-8.'… I'd rather just say what it is. We have a Super Bowl team, and let's do it. And Trey should embrace that."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Young below.
ESPN analyst Matt Miller understands the perspective of San Francisco 49ers fans. After all, he has been a fan of the team since he was a kid. Seeing any of your favorite players leave and put on another uniform is tough.
It's also difficult to pay everyone, and Miller knows that. It's not a formula for successful roster building, including paying two wide receivers top dollar.
The 49ers are trying to negotiate a contract extension with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The team invested heavily in another receiver, Deebo Samuel, just two years ago. Is allowing each of them to consume a significant chunk of the salary cap feasible for a team that hopes to continue being competitive and win Super Bowls?
"I have to separate the fan part of my brain, who
With the 2024 NFL Draft less than a week away, it's common for the rumor mill to start churning, especially with players who are actively seeking a new contract. It was just two short years ago that WR Deebo Samuel requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers prior to draft day, only for cooler heads to prevail and eventually agree to a new deal.
Now, it's WR Brandon Aiyuk's turn to try and get paid and rumors surfaced over the weekend that he too would request to be dealt. While that report was quickly shot down by his agent, there's still a lot of discussion about Aiyuk's future and if other teams will come calling on draft night.
Legendary columnist Mike Silver joined
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
