49ers: 3 Options with 12th overall pick in 2021 NFL Draft

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Trey Lance could land with 49ers. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

1. Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have continued to insist Jimmy Garoppolo has their backing as the starting quarterback for 2021.

But as the reality of the shrinking salary cap sets in, the quarterback issue for San Francisco becomes a math problem, and the numbers in relation to Garoppolo could make it a quick one to solve. He has missed 23 games through injury since taking over as the starting quarterback and the 49ers would save over $23 million in cap space by moving on from him, according to Spotrac.

That combination would appear to make it an easy decision for the Niners, who have 27 players scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency this offseason. However, the main problem for the 49ers is that if they do decide to start fresh under center the top quarterbacks may not make it to pick number 12.

Lance is arguably the best candidate to fall that far, having played only once since the end of the 2019 season after North Dakota State saw their 2020 schedule reduced to what amounted to a one-game showcase for the former high school safety.

In terms of upside, Lance is a clear upgrade on Garoppolo. He possesses an NFL-level arm that allows him to make big-time throws with pressure in his face and can deliver with outstanding touch on downfield passes.

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Boasting the mobility to escape the pocket, Lance excels at improvisational plays. He can throw with stunning accuracy on the move and frequently showcases the composure to reset his feet and scan the field after scrambling to evade pressure.

The versatile threat Lance poses as a runner puts defenses in a bind in those situations. He is quick rather than fast but showcases an enticing blend of elusiveness and thump in the open field.

Shanahan has previously had great success with a dual-threat quarterback in Robert Griffin III. With how often the 49ers employ motion and misdirection, Shanahan could easily incorporate Lance’s talents as a runner into his gameplan to further confound defenses.

Right now Lance is flying under the radar compared to Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields and Zach Wilson, but that lack of hype could end up being what helps the Niners land their quarterback of the future.