Aikman believes Lance is in ideal situation to thrive with 49ers

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With most signs pointing to Trey Lance being given every opportunity to start for the 49ers next season, Troy Aikman shares why he thinks the Niners are the perfect spot for Lance to showcase his talents.

Trey Lance’s first real test is likely to take place in September, but Troy Aikman believes these offseason months are the most important for the development of the 49ers' young quarterback.

Aikman, the new analyst for "Monday Night Football" on ESPN, spent time analyzing Lance before the 49ers’ Week 18 game against the Los Angeles Rams. Aikman, then FOX’s lead analyst, was uncertain whether Jimmy Garoppolo would be able to play due to a torn ligament in his right thumb.

Aikman, a Hall of Fame quarterback who won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s, took a close look at Lance’s Week 17 start against the Houston Texans.

“I saw some things that made you realize that, hey, this is why this guy was taken where he was,” Aikman said Monday in a conference call with reporters.

“And then you saw at other times a young quarterback that still had a lot of growth left ahead of him.”

Lance, who turned 22 last week, started one game for North Dakota State during the 2020 season, which was moved to the spring because of COVID-19.

After the 49ers selected him with the No. 3 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, Lance started two games in place of Garoppolo as a rookie.

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All indications are the 49ers intend to ride with Lance as the starter this season while the club continues to look to trade Garoppolo.

“So this offseason, and how he’s used it, is going to go a long way into what kind of success he’s going to have,” Aikman said of Lance.

There is no indication the 49ers have any questions about Lance’s ability to step in and play effectively. Aikman said he has gotten nothing but positive vibes when speaking with 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan about Lance.

“I don’t know Trey. I’ve not met him. But from everything I hear and in talking with Kyle, there’s a reason why they took him where they did,” Aikman said. “They’re betting on the upside, and my guess is that he’s worked extremely hard this offseason and will give himself the best opportunity for success.”

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Aikman said if he were a general manager and could hire any coach in the NFL, he would probably go with Shanahan as his top pick. He said he thinks Lance is in an ideal situation to move into the starting lineup.

“With the style that they run, with the running game and their ability to play defense, it doesn’t get better for a young quarterback,” Aikman said. “So those are things that really play into his favor.”

"Now I would really hope that Deebo Samuel is back, if I were him."

 

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