Peter King of NBC Sports is expecting big things from the San Francisco 49ers in 2022 with Trey Lance under center. Most expect the second-year quarterback to take over the reins from Jimmy Garoppolo, becoming the team's starter for the foreseeable future. Some wonder if that will result in a dropoff. After all, Lance has started just 19 games since high school.
King believes Lance will be fine, though, and will match or surpass Garoppolo's production from this past season. Garoppolo passed for 3,810 yards, throwing 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2021. More important, he was part of a squad that beat two division winners in the playoffs, including the top-seeded Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, reaching the NFC Championship Game for the second time in three seasons.
"I will be surprised if Trey Lance in 2022 isn't as good or better than Garoppolo was in 2021," King told Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. "And having said that, I think that Garoppolo was better than he will ultimately get credit for."
Lance appeared in six games this past season, starting two. He completed 57.7 percent of his pass attempts for 603 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions as a rookie.
King added that each offseason, in his notebook, he puts a checkmark next to any team he feels can compete. Does he expect to mark one down for the 49ers this offseason?
"No question about it," King responded. "I think they've got a chance to get as far or farther next year than they got this year."
That is good news for a 49ers team that was one win short of returning to the Super Bowl.
"Every team has holes. Every team has problems that they've got to solve," King added. "But I just think the 49ers have some really good players at some very important positions, and if you don't have those positions covered, you're not going to be great.
"... I think if Trey Lance is as good, or even slightly better than Garoppolo, and I believe he probably will be—at least Garoppolo [from] this [past season]—I like the 49ers next year."