Two years later, Lance has started only four games and has been surpassed on the depth chart by last year's "Mr. Irrelevant," the No. 262 overall pick, Brock Purdy.
Despite the cost of acquiring Lance, York doesn't regret the decision to trade up and still believes in Lance's potential.
"I wouldn't change anything that we've made about the decision with Trey," York told reporters. "I think Trey has a chance to be great, but it's a bonus when you get somebody at the end of the seventh round that ends up coming in and being very impactful for your team.
"I've said it multiple times with quarterbacks, whether it was Alex [Smith] and [Colin Kaepernick], watching Jimmy [Garoppolo], and Jimmy and Trey, and now Brock and Trey and Sam [Darnold], you can't have enough good quarterbacks.
"I wish that we can go back in time and Steve Bono could be my third-string quarterback behind two future Hall of Famers. That's fantastic. That gives you a chance to win and be very, very successful in this league.
"Again, you can't worry about, 'Well, Trey hasn't played as many games as we would have liked.' It's not his fault. He got injured."
None of the 49ers' three quarterbacks will cost the team very much this season. Two of them, Lance and Purdy, remain on their rookie deals. York understands that keeping expenses down in the quarterback room has allowed San Francisco to pursue talent like cornerback Charvarius Ward last year or defensive tackle Javon Hargrave this year.
"There's a delta in what you're spending on your quarterback versus what somebody else is spending on their quarterback," York continued. "And I hope that one of these three guys gets a massive, massive extension with the San Francisco 49ers at some point. But until that, we're going to make sure that we build this thing around a young quarterback with a very team-friendly contract.
"And again, the ultimate goal is to win a championship. It's not to say that this draft pick or this decision was the perfect decision. It's to win a Super Bowl."
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
John Lynch: Ricky Pearsall emerging as player the 49ers envisioned on draft day
Ricky Pearsall's NFL journey has been anything but ordinary. The rookie wide receiver, drafted in the first round by the San Francisco 49ers, endured a life-altering setback before even taking the field. On August 31, Pearsall was shot in the chest during a robbery attempt,... -
Seahawks nearly pulled off 2019 draft move that might have frustrated 49ers for years
In 2019, the Seattle Seahawks selected wide receiver DK Metcalf with the No. 64 overall pick in the NFL Draft. However, if their original plan had worked out, Metcalf wouldn't have been the only rookie wideout headed to the Pacific Northwest that year. According to ESPN's Adam... -
49ers add protection for Brock Purdy in latest ESPN mock draft
ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller has unveiled his latest mock draft, projecting each team's potential first-round pick for next year. In this mock, Miller has the San Francisco 49ers selecting at No. 16 overall. However, this placement doesn't necessarily reflect how he expects... -
49ers-Packers injury news: John Lynch provides Trent Williams and Nick Bosa updates
While the status of quarterback Brock Purdy has dominated headlines, injuries to tackle Trent Williams and defensive end Nick Bosa remain crucial storylines as the San Francisco 49ers prepare for their Week 12 matchup against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. On Friday...