Earlier than I get began, I wish to make one thing clear. Trey Lance’s damage historical past is one thing that can not be understated. He wants to remain wholesome, and if he can’t, he shouldn’t be thought-about a franchise-caliber quarterback. This isn’t about his historical past of significant ouchies and boo-boos sidelining him for virtually the whole thing of his first two seasons. That’s clearly terrible. That is about what we’ve seen from him when he really performs.

By way of 148 profession move makes an attempt, the quarterback managed a 52 % completion proportion, 1,061 yards, six touchdowns, and 4 interceptions — good for a 77.6 passer ranking, all whereas dashing for 354 yards and three touchdowns. Yeah, it doesn’t sound too spectacular, proper? Anybody who thinks somebody with these numbers might blossom right into a famous person absolutely has no concept what they’re speaking about, proper?

What? You’re telling me the stats I simply listed don’t belong to Trey Lance? Sure, I’m conscious. These aren’t Trey Lance’s numbers. These are Eagles’ quarterback Jalen Hurts’ rookie numbers. Hurts was 22 years outdated when he put up these figures in 2020 — the identical age Trey Lance was final season. There’s an argument to be made that Lance’s rookie season was really extra profitable than Hurts.

Not included within the tweet above is that, in line with Professional-Soccer-Reference, Lance was additionally superior to Hurts in each yards per move try (8.5 to 7.2) and on-target throw proportion (60.7 % to 73.9 %). Hurts held the sting in nearly each dashing class, however the alleged bust Lance was really significantly better statistically than Hurts as a passer. Hurts did present indicators of enchancment all through his rookie season that Lance didn’t fairly match, but when Hurts might turn into one of the crucial dynamic passing threats within the NFL, which he has, why can’t Lance? Why is the younger phenom Brock Purdy so significantly better and thought of by many to be the group’s sure-fire starter come this subsequent season?

Now, clearly, this comparability isn’t foolproof. The pair’s conditions had been drastically totally different. Hurts was working with Doug Pederson as his head coach. Whereas I believe Pederson is nice, it’s clear that Hurts didn’t break by till Nick Sirianni got here round. The identical state of affairs isn’t relevant to Lance, who had Kyle Shanahan every of the final two years and can possible have him for a few years to return, barring the 49ers commerce Lance, which is seemingly a rumor now together with Tom Brady popping out of retirement but once more.

Regardless, so long as Lance is in San Fran, he’s going to be in a Shanahan system. Lance additionally had a litany of high-end weapons in Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle. Hurts didn’t get DeVonta Smith till his sophomore season. Dallas Goedert was nonetheless creating. Zach Ertz was tailing off. AJ Brown clearly wasn’t there but. The Eagles’ main receiver in 2020 was Travis Fulgham for goodness sake. Lance had the posh of leaping right into a system that was able to contend for a Tremendous Bowl. Hurts didn’t. Nonetheless, that doesn’t imply everybody was offered on Hurts because the assured future in Philly.

I can’t assist however suppose how the narrative surrounding Lance could be totally different if Brock Purdy by no means existed. If Jimmy Garoppolo had remained the 49ers’ starter for the whole thing of 2022, would Lance be considered in a kinder mild? I consider so. Purdy’s story was really easy to get behind. He is very easy to root for that everybody needs him to be higher than Lance. Regardless of his success in 2022 although, that’s not essentially the case. Hell, Purdy could not have even been higher than Jimmy G, who many followers can’t wait to see shipped away from Santa Clara. The 2 of them had been considerably related statistically this previous yr.

Jimmy Garoppolo: 67.3 completion proportion, 5.2 landing proportion, 1.3 interception proportion, 7.9 yards per try, 103 passer ranking

Brock Purdy: 67.1 completion proportion, 7.6 landing proportion, 2.4 interception proportion, 8.1 yards per try, 107.3 passer ranking

Clearly, a few of these statistics are going to be skewed based mostly on sport script and different exterior elements in such a small pattern dimension.

I perceive that the argument may very well be made “Nicely Purdy is cheaper than Garoppolo and has time to develop.” However I’d say the identical for Lance — no less than the “time to develop” half; he’s positively costlier than Purdy. Lance is definitely youthful than Purdy, regardless of Lance heading into his third yr.

Sure, clearly, the accidents are a priority, and I don’t blame anybody for caring with Lance’s well being, however when you’re going to name Lance a bust resulting from his play, I don’t see it YET!

It’s been 4 begins. Give him slightly little bit of time. When you’re unwilling to do even that, clearly you could have little religion within the 49ers’ scout group, Kyle Shanahan, and everybody concerned in Lance’s growth. I’m not guaranteeing that Lance turns into a famous person. However no less than let him compete with Purdy for the beginning job, as a result of a type of guys has extra NFL expertise and it’s not the one everybody’s already labeling a bust.