At the time of the trade, the 49ers’ decision to move up nine spots in the 2021 NFL draft to select North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance was viewed by many throughout the game as bold, if not puzzling. Just over two years later, the move is looking increasingly like a disaster.
San Francisco’s reported decision to name Sam Darnold its backup quarterback drew plenty of reactions from across the football world, most of them critical of how the team’s gamble on Lance has failed to pay off. That gamble looks even more catastrophic considering what came of the picks that the 49ers gave up in that trade to acquire Lance, who’s made just four career starts in two years.
As ESPN’s Bill Barnwell pointed out, the 49ers moved up from No. 12 to No. 3 in the 2021 draft, sending the 12th pick to the Dolphins. Miami used that pick to move up to No. 6, where it selected wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, acquiring the sixth pick in a trade with the Eagles. Philadelphia eventually moved from pick No. 12—which originally belonged to San Francisco—to No. 10 in a trade with the Cowboys. With that pick, Philadelphia selected wideout DeVonta Smith.
And who did Dallas take with pick No. 12? Eventual Defensive Rookie of the Year and two-time first-team All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons.
The Dolphins used other picks acquired from the 49ers as trade pieces to land Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb, making the entire ordeal even worse from San Francisco’s perspective.
As bad a look as this deal has been for the organization, it makes the fact that the 49ers have remained successful that much more impressive, with back-to-back trips to the NFC championship game in Lance’s first two seasons. Still, all that team success won’t erase how big a calamity the trade has turned into.
