We always knew a Trey Lance trade was a possibility. However, most hoped the former No. 3 overall pick would prove his critics wrong and earn the San Francisco 49ers' QB2 job.
That didn't happen.
On Wednesday, multiple reports stated that the Niners had declared Sam Darnold, a free-agent acquisition in March, as starter Brock Purdy's primary backup. The same reports say that the 49ers are looking at their options regarding Lance. That likely includes a potential trade.
The plot thickened when local reporters headed out to watch Wednesday's practice, the last before Friday's preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers. Lance was nowhere to be found.
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, not only are the 49ers exploring trade possibilities for the third-year quarterback, they have been shopping him for "much of the offseason."
"The team never received a significant trade offer," Russini tweeted.
While the 49ers are exploring trade possibilities for Trey Lance, the front office has been shopping him for much of the offseason, according to a league source.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) August 23, 2023
The team never received a significant trade offer.
While the Trey Lance market may be quiet for now, this past spring the 49ers and Vikings had serious conversations about a trade for Lance, but talks fell apart, according to league sources.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) August 23, 2023
What this means for Lance's future remains unclear. However, if the 49ers are looking to move the quarterback, they will unlikely want him to step on the practice field or in a preseason game until they have explored all possibilities.
In 2021, San Francisco traded three first-round picks and a third-rounder to the Miami Dolphins to move up to select Lance. The quarterback has started just four games since that massive trade.