"I see the potential. I get it," Simms recently said on his podcast, Chris Simms Unbuttoned. "I'm just not sure it's going to all come together."
Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice is less pessimistic about the second-year quarterback's future. The 49ers legend sat down with Lance and discussed the 22-year-old's potential to be great and lead the Bay Area team to success.
"I knew Trey was going to be special from the first day I talked to him," Rice said during an interview for Boardroom (h/t Eric He of NBC Sports) while promoting his energy drink, G.O.A.T. Fuel. "I told him right before the draft, I said, 'You're going to be a San Francisco 49er.' He was like, 'No way. No way.' But what he brings to the table is that not only is he a great athlete, but he's going to inspire everybody else around him to be great."
Simms isn't Lance's only doubter. An offseason narrative that the 49ers lack confidence in Lance's readiness to start has been manufactured from hearsay and speculation. Some of that is based on the team holding onto its starter of the last four-and-a-half seasons, Jimmy Garoppolo. However, it ignores that the 49ers have tried to trade the veteran. Garoppolo's March 8 shoulder surgery stalled any trade discussions.
Releasing Garoppolo is an option, but the 49ers would get nothing in return for the quarterback if they did so. That move would also remove San Francisco's control over Garoppolo's destination. He could sign with the quarterback-needy Seattle Seahawks, improving a division rival.
As for Lance, Rice is excited about the 49ers' future with the young quarterback at the helm of head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense.
"This guy, he has all the tools," Rice continued with Lance sitting next to him. "He's got that rocket arm. And the thing too that he's going to bring to the table: mobility. Being able to get outside, extend plays, do all of those things and still have the vision downfield where he can use that arm to get the ball to his playmakers. So, I'm excited about this guy being onboard."
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