LeSean McCoy says recent first-round QB 'doesn't belong in the NFL'
One mediocre preseason outing has elevated the Trey Lance bashing to unforeseen heights.
On Monday, former Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy decided to get in on the action, questioning Lance's placement in the NFL during a recent appearance on FS1's " SPEAK."
"I’ve seen enough of him. I don’t want to hear about him," McCoy said. "You know what’s sad? It’s really not his fault because he doesn’t belong in the NFL. It’s not his fault."
McCoy's take comes on the heels of the San Francisco 49ers' 34-7 preseason loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. With projected QB1 Brock Purdy held out of action, Lance drew the start under center and played the entire first half. His stat line was far from atrocious, completing 10-of-15 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown.
Of course, the stats don't tell the whole story. Lance's touchdown was a fluke score, as his pass was deflected by Raiders cornerback Duke Shelley before landing in the arms of a diving Ross Dwelley for the touchdown. He was also sacked four times and had two near interceptions dropped by Raiders defenders.
Despite being the No. 3 overall pick just two seasons ago, the media appears ready to close the chapter that is Lance's tenure in San Francisco.
ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky stated on Monday's airing of "Get Up" that he doesn't believe Lance can play in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Marcus Spears took things a step further while appearing on First Take, claiming the Niners' decision to trade up and select Lance in 2021 "may go down as one of the worst trades in the draft in the history of the NFL."
Ultimately, Lance remains the prospect he was coming out of North Dakota State, a raw talent with untapped potential. The past three seasons have greatly hindered his development. His final collegiate campaign was limited to just one game due to COVID-19 protocols. As a rookie in the NFL, Lance sat behind then-Niners starter Jimmy Garoppolo. Lance finally took the reigns at quarterback in 2022 but suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2.
Whether Lance can live up to his draft position remains unknown. Although, sitting behind Purdy and possibly Sam Darnold in San Francisco certainly won't help his case. The 49ers appear to believe they've stumbled upon their quarterback of the future in Purdy.
It's likely best for all parties involved for San Francisco to cut ties with Lance. Trading the quarterback would remove the franchise from a draft blunder hanging over its head while giving the 23-year-old Lance a fresh start to re-write his NFL career.
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