Other than the Deebo Samuel drama, the quarterback situation has been among the biggest offseason storylines for the San Francisco 49ers. The team has been looking to trade veteran Jimmy Garoppolo, officially ushering in the Trey Lance era. However, that was stalled when Garoppolo underwent shoulder surgery in March.
Both quarterbacks remain on the roster with players set to report to training camp in eight days. While all signs indicate Lance being the Week 1 starter, critics have questioned Lance's readiness to take over from Garoppolo.
Lance's teammates have consistently praised the former No. 3 overall pick and seem prepared to enter the season with the 22-year-old leading them.
"He's a lot more mature than people think and/or know," kicker Robbie Gould told Matt Maiocco at the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament at Lake Tahoe. "He's a young kid. I think I started playing in the NFL when he was three, so it makes me feel a little bit older than normal. But I think just the ability for him to be able to run—I think he looks more comfortable in the offense. He's a great leader in the locker room."
Lance started just two games last season, spending most of his rookie campaign as Garoppolo's backup.
Garoppolo has been the 49ers' starter since Week 13 of the 2017 season, following a trade from the New England Patriots. He is a popular locker room presence, well-respected by his likely soon-to-be former teammates.
"Obviously, we all love Jimmy, and it's a business, but at the end of the day, they're making decisions to make the team the best team that they can," Gould continued. "And I think you're going to see Trey Lance take the helm and be ready and more prepared. And he had a chance to sit behind Jimmy and learn last year, which I think is helpful because he didn't just get thrown into the fire. And when he did play, he played pretty well."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Gould below. It begins at about the 24-minute mark.
