The 2021 NFL Draft class is shaping up to be one to remember. However, if you're the 49ers, it's likely one you want to forget.
The Trey Lance era in San Francisco ended before it even really got started, as the No. 3 pick in 2021 was traded to the Cowboys on Friday for a fourth-round draft pick. Lance's days in the Bay Area were seemingly numbered after he lost the backup quarterback battle to Sam Darnold, who sits as the second QB behind starter Brock Purdy on the 49ers' depth chart.
San Francisco thought they had the QB of the future two years ago. The 49ers traded a haul to the Dolphins in order to move up the draft board and select a signal caller. The team decided to go with Lance, a mobile quarterback out of North Dakota State who seemingly had the tools to translate his play to the NFL level, but had not faced top-notch competition in college.
The reward was not at all worth the risk, as Lance finished his time with the 49ers career playing in just eight games, logging a 2-2 record in four starts. He completed 54.9 percent of his passes for 797 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.
As Lance shifts down to the Big D to backup Dak Prescott, the 49ers are left looking like one of the biggest losers of the 2021 NFL Draft. Not only did the team receive just a fourth-round pick for a player they traded three first-round picks and a third-round pick for, but the talent that the 49ers passed on in favor of Lance is absurd.
MORE: Full details of the Trey Lance trade between the 49ers and Cowboys
Here is a look again at the 2021 NFL Draft and who the 49ers passed on to select Lance:
Who went after Trey Lance in the 2021 NFL Draft?
When it was the 49ers' turn on the clock at the 2021 NFL Draft, only two names were off the board: Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson.
Sitting at No. 3, the expectation was that the 49ers would draft one of the remaining quarterbacks available. That meant selecting either Lance, Justin Fields or Mac Jones. San Francisco elected to go with Lance.
Wrong move.
While Lance spent the majority of his time in San Francisco on the sidelines, Fields and Jones solidified starting roles on their respective teams. Fields ended up being selected 11th overall by the Bears, while Jones went to the Patriots at No. 15.
Fields has made 25 starts for Chicago over the last two seasons. In 2022, he completed 60.4 percent of his passes for 2,242 yards with 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. But his biggest weapon was his legs, as the Ohio State product rushed for 1,143 yards and eight TDs last season.
With a revamped offense around him in the Windy City, Fields is a strong candidate to take another step forward in the NFL.
MORE: Breaking down what the 49ers gave up to acquire the Trey Lance pick
Jones has been New England's starter for the last two seasons, making 31 starts. Injuries kept him out of three games last season. After finishing second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2021, the Alabama product completed 65.2 percent of his passes for 2,997 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
While his numbers were down from his rookie season, Jones was still a reliable QB in a New England offense marred by poor offensive coaching. With a new offensive coordinator in Bill O'Brien, 2023 could be a breakout year for Jones.
To make matters worse for the 49ers, a number of the players who were selected right after Lance on draft day have turned into stars. Whether a non-QB was ever on San Francisco's mind is unlikely, but there's no doubting that there was some significant talent passed by on the 49ers' side.
Offensively, wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle and Devonta Smith all were top-10 selections and have all carved out major roles in their respective offense. Penei Sewell and Rashawn Slater have emerged as two of the best up-and-coming tackles in the league, going No. 7 and No. 13, respectively, in the draft.
On the other side of the ball, Micah Parsons has been an absolute beast for the Cowboys, finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting two years in a row. He was selected with the No. 12 pick that originally belonged to the 49ers before their trade-up. Pat Surtain II and Jaycee Horn each are dominant cornerbacks who could have most certainly been used in the 49ers' secondary.
Trading away a No. 3 overall pick after just two years and four starts is bad business as is. You add in the fact that the 49ers passed on a pool of about 10 players who already have become legitimate starters, and it makes the Lance pick even harder to swallow.
2021 NFL Draft results
Here's the total rundown of the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft:
| Round | Pick | Team | Pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson |
| 1 | 2 | New York Jets | Zach Wilson, QB, BYU |
| 1 | 3 | San Francisco 49ers (from Dolphins through Texans) | Trey Lance, QB, NDSU |
| 1 | 4 | Atlanta Falcons | Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida |
| 1 | 5 | Cincinnati Bengals | Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU |
| 1 | 6 | Miami Dolphins (from Eagles) | Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama |
| 1 | 7 | Detroit Lions | Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon |
| 1 | 8 | Carolina Panthers | Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina |
| 1 | 9 | Denver Broncos | Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama |
| 1 | 10 | Philadelphia Eagles (from Cowboys) | DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama |
| 1 | 11 | Chicago Bears from Giants | Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State |
| 1 | 12 | Dallas Cowboys (from 49ers through Eagles, Dolphins) | Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State |
| 1 | 13 | Los Angeles Chargers | Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern |
| 1 | 14 | New York Jets (from Vikings) | Alijah Vera-Tucker, G, USC |
| 1 | 15 | New England Patriots | Mac Jones, QB, Alabama |
| 1 | 16 | Arizona Cardinals | Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa |
| 1 | 17 | Las Vegas Raiders | Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama |
| 1 | 18 | Miami Dolphins | Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami |
| 1 | 19 | Washington Football Team | Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky |
| 1 | 20 | New York Giants (from Bears) | Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida |
| 1 | 21 | Indianapolis Colts | Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan |
| 1 | 22 | Tennessee Titans | Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech |
| 1 | 23 | Minnesota Vikings (from Seahawks through Jets) | Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech |
| 1 | 24 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Najee Harris, RB, Alabama |
| 1 | 25 | Jacksonville Jaguars (from Rams) | Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson |
| 1 | 26 | Cleveland Browns | Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern |
| 1 | 27 | Baltimore Ravens | Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota |
| 1 | 28 | New Orleans Saints | Payton Turner, DE, Houston |
| 1 | 29 | Green Bay Packers | Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia |
| 1 | 30 | Buffalo Bills | Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami |
| 1 | 31 | Baltimore Ravens (from Chiefs) | Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State |
| 1 | 32 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Joe Tryon, EDGE, Washington |