The 49ers’ 2021 draft class was always going to be a massive turning point for the franchise. At first it was quarterback Trey Lance and three first-round picks it took to acquire him that would appear to define the next decade or so of football in San Francisco. Now as Lance watches from the sidelines with an ankle injury, it’s the rest of the draft class that will be front and center when the 49ers visit the Panthers on Sunday.
Almost every player from last year’s class will have some kind of role in Carolina, and that group’s success could widen the margin of error for Lance and the front office. If the non-Lance picks can churn out a couple of quality starters and a couple of depth pieces, the 49ers can still contend immediately and in the long term even if Lance doesn’t reach his ceiling.
