Insider: This one thing will determine if Trey Lance gets traded

Just three days before the 2023 NFL Draft, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance may just be the hottest name on the trade block.

While 49ers general manager John Lynch told reporters during a pre-draft news conference on Monday that he expects the former No. 3 overall pick to be on the team’s roster this season, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport believes a team could pry Lance away from San Francisco with a trade offer at the right time.

“It does sound like for the right price he would be available at some time,” Rapoport said. “The timing of this is probably the most interesting part. … Whether or not Brock Purdy is healthy, or when the 49ers know Brock Purdy is healthy is probably going to determine when Trey Lance is traded. If there’s still uncertainty, like maybe if Brock is not ready by July or August, which we think he’s going to be but we really don’t know, then you probably hang on to Trey Lance as insurance. I see him getting traded only when there is someone to take his spot on the roster.”

Purdy is believed to be right on track with his recovery from elbow surgery, but the 23-year-old signal caller recently admitted that he’s “not really sure” if he’ll even play in 2023, leaving the door open for Lance to prove why he should be San Francisco’s starting quarterback — a position he had to start the 2022 season.

Lance completed 48.4% of his passes for 194 yards and an interception in two starts last year before suffering season-ending ankle injury in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks. 

Purdy took over as the starter on Dec. 11 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leading the 49ers to a 5-0 record to close out the regular season and two playoff wins before suffering a torn UCL in the NFC Championship game.

Several teams have expressed interest in acquiring Lance including the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.