49ers GM John Lynch: Trey Lance trade didn't work out, but 'thank God for Mr. Irrelevant'

The San Francisco 49ers are poised to make their first Round 1 selection since the ill-fated trade to snag Trey Lance at No. 3 overall in 2021.

The move to trade for Lance didn’t work out, as the quarterback started just four games in two seasons for the Niners before being shipped to Dallas for a fourth-round pick. Fortunately for general manager John Lynch, head coach Kyle Shanahan and the rest of the 49ers’ brass, they stumbled into Brock Purdy the following year with the 262nd overall pick, the final selection in the 2022 draft.

If the Niners hadn’t discovered Purdy, they might be facing issues at the quarterback position. However, Lynch isn’t letting the unsuccessful Lance pick dissuade him from making future draft moves. Instead, he sees it as a learning experience.

He expressed on Monday, as per the team’s official transcript, his gratitude towards the supportive ownership. He mentioned Jed, John, Denise, Jenna, and Mara York, who have faith in Kyle and him as leaders. They trust their judgment on what will improve the team and encourage them to go for it without any major restrictions. This freedom allows them to be bold in their decisions. Admittedly, despite their substantial sacrifices and motivations, some things did not work out as expected.

“But we are grateful to Mr. Irrelevant [Purdy]. He assisted us.”

The GM pointed out that the Niners’ decision to move on from Lance demonstrated the organization’s strength.

Lynch expressed his cautious optimism about Trey Lance, whose story is yet to be written. He affirmed that Lance, currently in Dallas, still has promising potential in football. He pointed out that they are not obligated to stick with a player simply because they drafted him. They have the freedom to make moves that they believe will improve the team. This approach, he believes, has served them well. He noted that they always evaluate the outcome of their decisions, learning from both their successes and failures. He concluded by asserting that their team and organization are in a good place, but they are striving to improve. He sees the upcoming draft as an excellent opportunity to make this improvement.

Purdy’s ascension from Mr. Irrelevant to Super Bowl starter has allowed Lynch and Shanahan freedom to build a roster with highly paid players like Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel, Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey, Javon Hargrave, Fred Warner, etc. One big question is whether Brandon Aiyuk will join those ranks this offseason.

The prospect of the QB being eligible for an extension next offseason implies that the Niners will no longer be able to take advantage of the relatively low salary they pay Purdy in comparison to other starters in his position. Lynch, however, refuted the notion that this circumstance makes their first-round pick on Thursday, as well as their other 10 selections, more crucial.

Lynch expressed his confidence in the current position, saying it’s reassuring to have a solid solution there. He believes this allows them to focus on strengthening the team around that position. He has a high opinion of their current roster and predicts it will be challenging for incoming rookies to make a significant impact. However, he acknowledges the importance of finding good players, as the team relies on rookie contracts due to the number of players they’ve already paid. Lynch expressed the need for players from the upcoming draft to be ready to play both next year and in the future, noting that the opportunity is there.

At present, three out of the Niners’ 10 picks are among the top 100.