Analyst: 49ers could trade Trey Lance, re-sign Jimmy Garoppolo after Christian McCaffrey trade

The San Francisco 49ers went all-in on the 2022 NFL season when they sent the Carolina Panthers second, third, and fourth-round draft picks in 2023 and a fifth-round selection in 2024 for star running back Christian McCaffrey. 

McCaffrey hasn't been with the 49ers for a whole week, but ESPN's Bill Barnwell is already thinking beyond the ongoing campaign and suggested that the franchise could shop Trey Lance this offseason to recover draft capital ahead of next year's player-selection process. 

"If the 49ers think he isn't the quarterback they believed they were getting in 2021, the haul they sent away to acquire him is a sunk cost," Barnwell wrote about the Niners moving up to draft Lance third overall last year. "There would still be teams interested in acquiring Lance to be their quarterback of the future, even if he struggled with the 49ers." 

Barnwell notes that such a scenario would probably involve the 49ers signing veteran signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo to a new deal as long as the team enjoyed "a deep playoff run and excellent work on the offense" with Garoppolo back under center. 

Garoppolo agreed to a restructured deal with the 49ers ahead of the season and served as Lance's backup until the 22-year-old went down with a season-ending right ankle injury in Week 2. 

"Lance still probably would net a late first-round pick or early second-round pick in return," Barnwell added. 

Lance was San Francisco's QB2 for most of his rookie year and has thus far attempted only 102 regular-season passes at the highest level. He completed 54.9% of those throws for 797 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions, and he's also rushed for 235 yards and a score. 

By all accounts, San Francisco expects to have Lance healthy and back atop the depth chart by next summer. For now, Garoppolo and the 3-4 49ers are preparing to play at the 3-3 Los Angeles Rams this coming Sunday.