49ERS STOCK REPORT

Taking stock of the 49ers by positional unit as San Francisco enters the heart of its summer training camp schedule and exhibition season, giving an indication of which way the team is trending in each area since the completion of the 2020 season.

- Craig Massei

QUARTERBACKS

Incumbent veteran starter Jimmy Garoppolo and newcomer rookie Trey Lance both came out guns blazing to begin training camp, and the “no open competition” that head coach Kyle Shanahan claimed would characterize the position this summer quickly became an intense competition that has been the must-watch battle of training camp.

It’s a battle Lance was winning as the 49ers prepared to enter their third week of camp with their preseason opener looming Aug. 14 against the Kansas City Chiefs. At least, that’s what the eye test says. But it’s not what San Francisco’s depth chart says. Garoppolo, who has had his moments in camp and isn’t exactly doing anything to lose his job, remains No. 1. And the way Shanahan makes it sound, Garoppolo is going to remain the starter until Lance’s rapid progress simply leaves the coaching staff with no other choice than to go with the younger, hotter, more athletic youngster.

That day could be coming fast. Lance has been a revelation so far in camp, creating a national buzz as is detailed in-depth elsewhere in this issue. The 49ers have a wonderful future in store at the position with Lance as their long-term starter, and that development could happen sooner rather than later depending on how well Lance performs in the preseason and how well Garoppolo can do in a desperate attempt to hold him off.

With so much at stake and so much emphasis on that battle, not many observers seem to be noticing that there is another battle happening for the No. 3 quarterback role between Josh Rosen and Nate Sudfeld. Not many are noticing, because not many snaps in team drills are going to the pair of young veterans who have washed out with other NFL teams.