It’s usually pretty easy to determine if an NFL team has a franchise quarterback on their roster. Every year, there always seems to be a handful of teams that desperately need a franchise-level sign, but can’t seem to get off the quarterback carousel.
Getting a franchise quarterback is hard enough, but in the case of the San Francisco 49ers, Kyle Shanahan believes they have several “franchise-type” players in the job.
Shanahan said he thinks the trio of Brock Purdy, Trey Lance and Sam Darnold are more than capable.
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San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan reacts against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second quarter of Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 2, 2020 in Miami. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
“I think we have three talented quarterbacks who are capable of being franchise-type quarterbacks,” Shanahan said Thursday, according to The Athletic.
“Brock has done that in his eight [games]. And we have two other guys on our roster that we strongly believe can do that as well.”
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It’s unclear who will be under center when San Francisco takes the field for its Week 1 game against the Steelers. Brock Purdy is likely the frontrunner, however his health will be a factor as he continues to recover from UCL surgery.
49ers general manager John Lynch previously said Purdy “earned the right to be the man.”
Purdy, selected in the seventh round of the 2022 draft, took over the starting job after veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a season-ending foot injury. Garoppolo departed this offseason and signed with the Raiders.
Purdy went 5-0 down the stretch of the regular season and won two playoff games. He led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game.
Trey Lance, #5, and Brock Purdy, #13 of the San Francisco 49ers, on the field before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on December 15, 2022 in Seattle. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 21-13. (Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
Shanahan and Lynch admitted that they heard from other teams that they were interested in trading Lance. Earlier this offseason, the 49ers added veteran quarterback Darnold to the roster. He was drafted by the Jets in the first round in 2018 and spent the last two seasons with the Panthers.
Darnold has started 55 games in the NFL.
Shanahan added that, in his opinion, Lance, who was the third overall pick in the draft in 2021, “would have gotten to a level where he would have done similar things” to what Purdy did last season if injuries hadn’t slowed him down. during the last two seasons.
Trey Lance, #5 of the San Francisco 49ers, throws a pass against the Chicago Bears during the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on September 11, 2022 in Chicago. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
“We expected Trey Lance [to be the man for a long time] and I think it still can be. You also don’t expect the last pick to come in and play at that level,” Shanahan said.
“He missed that opportunity and Brock came in and did it. I really think Trey can come in and do that, but Brock already did it and that’s a very good thing for us.”
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The 49ers will enter the 2023 season as the favorites to win the NFC West division and are expected to compete for the Super Bowl.
