SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- In April of 2021, the San Francisco 49ers traded up to select quarterback Trey Lance No. 3 overall in the NFL draft. Lance was viewed as their future franchise signal-caller for the years to come.
The 49ers' goal was to have a quarterback on a rookie contract while using resources to build a dominant roster around the QB. The hope was that the pieces would add up to a Super Bowl championship.
As it turned out, the Niners did benefit from a rookie quarterback contract window. But it was Brock Purdy -- not Lance -- who became the team's starter a year later in 2022 and was playing for the relatively meager wages associated with being the last pick (Mr.