NFL 2022: Ranking the top 43 quarterbacks in the league

No. 28 NFL quarterback in 2022: Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers

The big-time traits of Trey Lance on display in the Kyle Shanahan offense will be fun for every NFL fan to watch.

Lance was the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of North Dakota State where his sample size was bordering on historically small for a quarterback prospect being picked that high from the FCS ranks.

The 49ers were obviously sold on the tools and the person, because they moved up and gave up a lot of capital to get Lance in the building.

As of right now, however, Lance is still on the same QB depth chart as incumbent starter Jimmy Garoppolo, whose offseason shoulder surgery has apparently complicated trade possibilities.

I think a team like Carolina would still be extremely smart to trade for Garoppolo and actually give themselves a shot to compete this season, and I think ultimately, most everyone expects this job to be Lance’s in 2022.

But what if it isn’t?

We’ll cross that bridge if we come to it.

For now, the 49ers still have Deebo Samuel. They should have everything in place for Lance to have immediate success upon being named the full-time starter, but Lance needs to be afforded the opportunity for growing pains as well.

I think expectations are going to be really high for him.

Luckily, as Lance grows as a passer, he has elite tools to be able to keep the 49ers in playoff contention as a runner just like Josh Allen was able to do early in his career with the Buffalo Bills.