So there is a lot of discussion around the internet about 49ers quarterback Trey Lance, and as to what to do with him come 2023, especially after the emergence of Brock Purdy as the clear QB1, so let’s look at why trading Trey makes no sense.
If the 49ers trade Trey, they’d incur a $11,081,912 dead money hit, while losing $1,780,478 in cap room, this is of course if they do this pre June 1, by doing a post June 1 trade they’d save cap room in both 2023 & 2024, but I don’t think it’s worth it.
Now, if the 49ers do trade Trey, it makes more sense to do it pre June 1, as they’d get a 2023 draft pick, and it’d have to be a 1st-rounder to eat that kind of money, but the 49ers need every penny to retain, or replace free agents, and if traded pre June 1, the 49ers would save over $10.851 million in 2024.
Now, if the 49ers traded Trey post June 1, they’d save money both in 2023 & 2024, but you’re not getting a premium draft pick from a QB needy team, as the pick would come in 2024.
Also, by trading Trey post June 1, they can split the $11.081 million over two seasons, 2023 & 2024, but they’d gain less cap room in 2024, plus why would someone trade for Trey post June 1, when he’d have to come in, and learn the playbook with not much time until the 2023 season begins, it just makes no sense for Trey, the 49ers, or another team.
Further more, dealing Lance would open another hole to fill for your QB2 spot, as Trey has been every bit the great teammate that Jimmy Garoppolo was to him in 2022, that Trey is to Brock Purdy, he isn’t sulking, or sending out cryptic tweets about wanting out, and there’s no guarantee that Brock Purdy is going to begin 2023 as the starter, as the team, if they lose this weekend, could decide to hold an open competition in mini-camps, and training camp, to see who’s the week 1 starter.
Look, while trading up for Trey may have not been the best thing, hindsight is 20/20, as no one saw Brock Purdy being so good after the injuries to both Trey Lance, & Jimmy Garoppolo, most thought the season was pretty much over, but here we are, less than 48 hours until the NFC Championship game, and a chance for Purdy to make history, as the first rookie to lead a team to the Super Bowl.
Purdy was drafted 262nd-overall, Mr. Irrelevant, while the 49ers gave up 2 future 1st-round picks, and a future 3rd-rounder at the time, for who they thought was their franchise QB, but again, hindsight being 20/20, no one thought this would happen, Brock Purdy is no longer Irrelevant, as he’s pretty damn relevant, it just, in my eyes, makes more sense to hold onto Trey Lance, along with Brock Purdy, having 2 very good QBs on your roster come 2023, rather then trading Trey, losing over $1.78 million in cap room, then signing an expensive backup QB, when you can use that money to re-sign someone like Charles Omenihu, or Samson Ebukam, or maybe both, you just never know.
As always, thank you for reading, and follow me on Twitter @49erscap.
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