What are Cowherd's four criteria points when evaluating quarterbacks in today's NFL? The first is size. Cowherd believes the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Lance meets that requirement.
"Big, strong kid," Cowherd said on his show, The Herd.
The second is athletic ability.
"Check," Cowherd said. "He may not be Kyler Murray, but he can move."
The third is personality.
"I've actually met him—check," Cowherd said. "Smart kid, good kid."
What's the fourth box that needs to be checked—the one that worries Cowherd? That would be accuracy.
"He's not a pretty thrower of the football," Cowherd explained. "Neither was Philip Rivers. He doesn't have to be, in Kyle Shanahan's system, Drew Brees. But he can't be Cam Newton. Matt Stafford's career completion percentage is 63. He won a Super Bowl. Josh Allen is [62.3]. You've got to get about there. That's it.
"Right now, he's at [57.7 percent]. Again, he's not a pretty thrower of the football. That's not the be-all, end-all. Kyler Murray, to me, throws the prettiest ball in the league. Philip Rivers threw the ugliest. Peyton Manning didn't throw a pretty football. That's, to me, the issue.
"Three of the four boxes, not only are they checked, they're above average. He's bigger than you need to be. He's more athletic than you need to be. His personality is great. Bright kid. That's not [the issue]. But the accuracy thing ... it's all about the accuracy box. And under Kyle Shanahan, you don't have to be Drew Brees or Kirk Cousins [to succeed]."
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers' Brandon Aiyuk clearly has one NFL team on his mind
Brandon Aiyuk remains a member of the San Francisco 49ers—for now. The 49ers are expected to release the veteran wide receiver before training camp begins in late July. Still, Aiyuk appears to have already set his sights on his next destination: the Washington... -
49ers All-Pro George Kittle urges NFL to protect its most valuable asset
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is underway, with several matches being played in NFL stadiums, including Levi's Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers. To meet FIFA requirements, venues that typically feature artificial turf have temporarily installed natural grass playing... -
Two former 49ers named among biggest draft busts of all time
When discussing the biggest NFL Draft busts in San Francisco 49ers history, one of the most obvious examples is the blockbuster trade that set the team up to select quarterback Trey Lance. Bleacher Report recently compiled a list of the 99 biggest draft busts of all... -
Why 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan still trails others among NFL play callers
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is widely regarded as one of the NFL's premier offensive minds. Yet, despite his reputation as an elite play caller, he still isn't considered the league's best. Daniel Rios of Essentially Sports recently ranked the NFL's top 10...