3 sneaky moves the Detroit Lions could do to get a backup quarterback

3. Trade for Trey Lance

The 49ers don’t necessarily seem ready to totally give up on Lance, who frankly has barely played in two NFL seasons since they traded up to take him No. 3 overall. An ankle injury ended his 2022 campaign two games in. The eventual emergence of Brock Purdy, who suffered an elbow injury in the NFC Championship Game, and the signing of Sam Darnold in free agency has created questions over who will even be the 49ers’ starting quarterback come Week 1 in September.

Lance had just one full season as a starter in college, at powerhouse North Dakota State in the FCS, as COVID impacted his final season. So he was and remains a huge unknown, with theoretical potential to be really good with the mere combination of opportunity and good health.

It was easy to tie Lance to a possible trade to the Tennessee Titans, as Ran Carthon moved from the 49ers’ front office to become the Titans’ general manager. But there doesn’t seem to be a lot of traction to that, and it’s not out of the question the Lions could consider a deal for Lance. Other teams could talk themselves into it as an option too.

It probably wouldn’t take a lot to get Lance in a trade, maybe a third of fourth-round pick perhaps tied to conditions on playing time or his multi-year future with a new team. It may come down to the 49ers’ willingness to engage, and/or how realistic their expectations are. And based on their rumored desires in a trade for Jimmy Garoppolo last offseason, general manager John Lynch may not be all that realistic about any deal involving Lance.

Still, the Lions could buy low on a young quarterback who can (in theory) hold down the fort if Goff were to miss time and may stick around long-term.