What happened: Ed Werder evaluated San Francisco's roster construction, noting the franchise recovered from its early draft misstep on quarterback Trey Lance through the emergence of Brock Purdy. The organization originally granted six-year contracts to head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch to withstand an extended rebuild. That structural stability enabled the front office to absorb Lance's departure while maintaining perennial playoff contention.
Why it matters: San Francisco invested three first-round selections to trade up for Lance in 2021, a move that typically cripples competitive windows when a top quarterback prospect fails to develop. Finding a viable franchise starter with the final pick of the 2022 draft insulated the organization from those sunk capital costs. The recovery allowed the roster to withstand repeated injury attrition and remain atop the conference hierarchy.
By the numbers: Lance went No. 3 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, while Purdy was selected 262nd overall in 2022. Last season (2025), Purdy completed 197 of 284 passes for 2,167 yards with 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions across 9 games. Lance completed 27 of 57 passes for 226 yards with one interception in 4 games last season (2025).
What to watch: San Francisco continues regular-season competition looking to protect its NFC standing, while Lance remains on injured reserve with Los Angeles.