Brandon Aiyuk acknowledges Brock Purdy as the San Francisco 49ers' quarterback of the future. After all, the young passer has helped guide the team to two NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl appearance in his relatively early NFL career.
Aiyuk and Purdy haven't played together for very long, with Purdy's first start coming during the 2022 season. The receiver has caught passes from others during his time with the 49ers and was recently asked to reflect on a couple of his previous quarterbacks, who are no longer with the team.
When questioned about his preference between Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo, the wide receiver didn't hesitate, expressing his favoritism towards Lance.
"It's really an easy question, bro," Aiyuk stated on Instagram Live, per Madison Williams of Sports Illustrated. "I'll go Trey Lance."
This response isn't surprising, given Aiyuk and Lance's close relationship during their time with the 49ers. They trained together during previous offseasons and strengthened their bond by spending time together off the field.
In 2022, Aiyuk offered a glimpse into their offseasons together, saying, "This second year, we got to stay in the house together with a couple of other people and just hang out by the fire, talk, really just get to know who he is, and him getting to know who I am outside of playing football because that's really the only time we get to see each other. So being in there a couple of weeks, and working hard, putting in hours, grinding together, and then hanging out, just chilling afterward. It's cool. It's a great thing."
While Aiyuk didn't discuss his current relationships with either quarterback, it's clear that the connection he formed with Lance remains significant to him.
With Purdy established as the starter and a crowded quarterback room heading into the 2023 season, the 49ers traded Lance to the Dallas Cowboys.
Garoppolo departed the 49ers last year in free agency, securing a three-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. However, his tenure there hit a snag as he faces a two-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances. The Raiders are expected to release the veteran quarterback.