ESPN NFL insider predicts 49ers won't start Tom Brady in 2023

Not everybody is convinced the San Francisco 49ers will actively pursue Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady when free agency opens in March. 

Per David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone, ESPN NFL Nation insider Mina Kimes predicted during Tuesday's edition of "First Take" that San Francisco Week 1 starter Trey Lance will be atop the club's depth chart this coming September. 

"Not because I think it's necessarily what they should do or even what people in San Francisco want to do, but it seems the most plausible of the three [options] because of health, cap space, and the amount of investment they've already sunk into him," Kimes explained. 

Ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft, the 49ers traded three first-round selections and a third-round choice to the Miami Dolphins to move up to pick No. 3, where San Francisco acquired Lance. 

Thus far, Lance has made just four meaningful NFL starts and thrown 102 career regular-season passes, and the 22-year-old went down with a campaign-ending ankle injury in September that ultimately left him needing multiple operations. 

Questions about his ankle, aside, Lance remains an unproven asset who is on an inexpensive contract but who also watched as rookie Brock Purdy went 5-0 across his regular-season starts and then guided the 49ers to a pair of playoff victories. 

However, Purdy's future is now up in the air as he recovers from a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow that could sideline him for at least six months. 

Meanwhile, Brady rooted for the 49ers while growing up in California and can hit free agency in March with an eighth-career Super Bowl ring in mind. It's thought Brady could cost the 49ers around $30 million on a one-year deal, and Kimes indicated the asking price could be too rich for San Francisco. 

"You'd have to get him to sign a very team-friendly deal to do so," Kimes said of the 49ers possibly landing Brady. She offered that take after NFL Network's Ian Rapoport previously suggested Brady won't offer the Niners any discount this offseason. 

One unnamed executive from a different club recently predicted the 49ers will sign Brady and then send Lance to the Tennessee Titans. That person spoke without knowing for sure Brady will play in 2023.