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On the eve of training camp, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke with the Athletic's Tim Kawakami, focusing on his young quarterback Trey Lance as he enters his first season as the starting quarterback for the 49ers.
Reminiscing on last season, Shanahan praised Garoppolo for his performance in leading the 49ers en route to the NFC Championship Game, but admitted that the 49ers figured out their quarterback situation last year with the selection of Trey Lance, understanding that the salary cap made it tough to carry Garoppolo for 2022.
"We had an awesome run with Jimmy, it was great. But when you bring in a salary cap and things like that, there are so many tough decisions that you have to make and we made [that decision] a year ago. And we got to here and I was so happy [with] how Jimmy played last year, that he took us almost to the Super Bowl, got healthy, [and] guys around him played real well around him. But, this is something that we did last year knowing where we wanted to go with this franchise and how you balance out a salary cap, how you balance out a roster, and Jimmy gave Trey a year that I thought he needed just to get used to this league, get his feet wet a little bit."
Lance has received all the first-team reps this offseason with Garoppolo nursing a shoulder injury, and Shanahan believes that the 49ers are ready to roll with their young quarterback for the 2022 season, while believing that what Lance needs is the necessary reps.
"I think our team's ready for Trey, going through OTAs, I'm just pumped to get to work [and] provide him some practices because I know the kid has the abilities, made of the right stuff, he just needs the reps."
Shanahan understands that Lance will suffer through ups and downs in his sophomore season, but doesn't think that the 49ers are dependent on him right away, similar to how they weren't with Garoppolo in 2019.
"I know there's going to be some good. I also know there's going to be some bad, but I like the situation we're putting him in where I feel we have the team that if we can stay healthy and build the team around him, I don't think it all depends on Trey right away," Shanahan said. "Just like Jimmy in 2019. He hadn't played a lot of football and he was coming off an ACL. I knew I believed in him, but I didn't know how he was going to play and it took him some time off of his injury. Not to mention, he hadn't started many games in his career prior than that. As he went, he had some ups and downs, some good times, some bad times, but we played such good defense around him. We had some young receivers who made some plays [and] we ran the ball. Before you knew it, we were 8-0 and then he started playing really well. He took us on a stretch in that year into the playoffs where in that middle of the season, [he played] some of his best football and our team allowed him to get to that point."
Shanahan pointed out Lance's supporting cast, as well as the strong defense that the 22-year-old will be able to rely on, while also declaring confidence in Lance's abilities.
"I see us going into this season very much to where Trey's going to do a lot of good stuff, but he also hasn't played a lot of ball. And that's why we can take him through these games and still have a chance to win each game [we're in] without putting him in all that stuff because he does have a defense he can rely on [and] he'll have a running game he can rely on. I love our weapons with our receivers [and] our tight ends, and I'm really excited about our team here to where we don't have to go into it and [think] it'll be all about Trey. I think it's going to be all about our team and we're going to allow him to move with our team. The kid's made of the right stuff and he has the ability to do it, and [I] hope the fans are patient with him. I think our team's going to understand that we have the right type of guy, and they're going to see some real encouraging stuff out there from him early."
It's safe to say that Lance has the trust of his head coach heading into 2022.
"Thank God for Mr. Irrelevant": John Lynch reflects on 49ers drafting Trey Lance
By David Bonilla
Apr 22
The decision to trade up in the 2021 NFL Draft and select quarterback Trey Lance could have had significant consequences for general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan. With the team lacking first-round picks in the last two drafts due to this move, and Lance no longer on the roster after being traded to the Dallas Cowboys before last season, it's clear the gamble didn't unfold as expected.
Lynch held his annual pre-draft press conference on Monday, reflecting on the decision to take such a big chance on Lance. While such a bold move might have jeopardized jobs elsewhere, Lynch and Shanahan were blessed with some good fortune in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Acknowledging the support of the team's ownership, Lynch stated, "They believe in Kyle and I, and our
Breaking down the 49ers drafts under John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan
By Marc Adams
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We are less than one week away from the NFL Draft, and the San Francisco 49ers have their first day-one draft pick since 2021. That was the year they selected QB Trey Lance number three overall. The trade-up to get Lance cost the 49ers their first-round picks in 2022 and 2023. And now that they are back in the first round, at pick 31, fans are anxious to see what the team does with the pick. And with former assistant GM, Adam Peters, now in Washington, it will be interesting to see how well the 49ers draft without Peters in the room.
We looked back at the seven drafts GM John Lynch and Head Coach Kyle Shanahan have led to see what information we could pull from those drafts. There were plenty of hits, plenty of misses, and a few surprises along the way. The draft picks are
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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy threw for a franchise-record 4,280 yards last season, leading the team to the Super Bowl and earning his first Pro Bowl selection. He held onto the football 39 times on the ground, rushing for 144 yards and scoring twice. This marked a significant improvement over his rookie 2022 campaign when he had 22 carries for 13 yards and a score.
Purdy further displayed his athleticism during the 49ers' playoff game against the Detroit Lions last season, helping engineer a comeback victory while rushing for 48 yards on five carries.
On Tuesday morning, Purdy joined the "Pat McAfee Show," acknowledging that he believes he can contribute more rushing yards if called upon. However, that decision rests with head coach Kyle Shanahan,
49ers sign WR Trent Taylor, reuniting with former draft pick
By David Bonilla
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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
