49ers QB depth chart: What Trey Lance trade means for Brock Purdy, Sam Darnold, Brandon Allen

The 49ers quarterback depth chart became the focus of the NFL world when Trey Lance lost the team’s backup job to Sam Darnold. It put the status of the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft into limbo, as many wondered whether San Francisco would look to part with him.

Indeed, the 49ers did just that. Just two days after Lance’s demotion, the team traded him to the Cowboys in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The trade marked a disappointing end to Lance’s two-plus years with the 49ers. The team had selected him in the hopes that he would become a franchise-level quarterback. It was known that he was raw, but he had many fans in the scouting community who were enthralled by his rare combination of arm strength and mobility.

Even so, Lance made just four starts with the 49ers thanks, in part, to a finger injury during his rookie season and a broken ankle that sidelined him for most of the 2022 NFL season. He posted a 2-2 record and completed just 54.9 percent of his passes for 797 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.

Now, Lance will look for a fresh start with the Cowboys. As for the 49ers? They are resetting their long-term resources in the quarterback room but seemingly have the talent and depth needed to make another deep playoff run.

MORE: Full details of the Trey Lance trade between the 49ers and Cowboys

Here’s what to know about the three men left standing on the 49ers quarterback depth chart.

1. Brock Purdy

Purdy’s play in relief of Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo last season was part of what led to Lance’s exit from the 49ers. The final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft was excellent as a rookie, posting a record of 7-1 in eight starts (playoffs included) while completing 66.5 percent of his passes for 1,943 yards, 16 touchdowns and just four interceptions.

Purdy demonstrated excellent accuracy and even better decision-making during his first season in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. He fits the archetypal pocket passer mold with which Shanahan has enjoyed success during his career, so it seems that Purdy should only get better as he continues to develop at the NFL level.

At just 23 years old, it’s easy to understand why the 49ers are excited about Purdy. It’s also easy to understand why they’d value Mr. Irrelevant over Lance at this point, as Purdy will never have a cap hit greater than $1.12 million over the next four seasons. That type of cap flexibility will allow the 49ers to continue to spend and build around Purdy as they look to make it back to the Super Bowl for the second time under Shanahan.

And with Lance exiting, Purdy no longer has to worry about the 49ers reversing course and trying to get more out of their top selection. The Iowa State product is their guy, and he need only continue to succeed to hold onto that starting job.

IYER: Explaining why the Cowboys traded for Trey Lance and what it means for Dak Prescott

2. Sam Darnold

One of the catalysts for the Lance trade was the fact that he had officially lost the backup quarterback job to Sam Darnold.

Like Lance, Darnold was once the No. 3 overall pick in a draft class and he struggled to find success during his early NFL career. He recorded double-digit interceptions in each of his first four NFL seasons and had a record of just 17-32 in his first four NFL seasons.

That said, Darnold made six starts for the Panthers during his 2022 season and he performed solidly. The team had a 4-2 record in his starts and he completed 58.6 percent of his passes for 1,143 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions. Sure, his accuracy leaves a bit to be desired, but he’s still just 26 and showed signs of improvement last season.

Perhaps Darnold can finally complete more than 60 percent of his passes in a season under Shanahan’s tutelage — if he’s called upon. Either way, he has a defined role moving forward, and it’s possible that being a backup quarterback could be a role that suits him.

And that the 49ers trust Darnold over Lance despite the veteran’s subpar track record is a bad sign for Lance. Maybe it isn’t so much an indictment of him as a player but an acknowledgment that he wasn’t as good a fit in the Shanahan offense as many had hoped.

MORE: What did the 49ers trade for Trey Lance? Revisiting picks involved in 2021 NFL Draft deal

3. Brandon Allen

Lance’s departure from the 49ers is massive for Allen. Had the No. 3 overall pick not been traded, Allen likely would have been released and potentially stashed on the practice squad if another team didn’t claim him off waivers.

Instead, the 30-year-old appears to have locked down the No. 3 quarterback job in San Francisco and, with it, a roster spot.

Allen joined the NFL ranks in 2016 after he was selected in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Jaguars. It took him a while to find success, but he emerged as a quality backup with the Broncos in 2019 and then went on to hold that same role with the Bengals. Getting the No. 3 job in San Francisco is a slight demotion, but it may be worth it as he gets a chance to play in Shanahan’s quarterback-friendly offense.

Allen has completed 56.7 percent of his career passes for 1,611 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has only made nine starts — most of which came in 2020 after Joe Burrow tore his ACL — and has a 2-7 record in those contests.