The 49ers don’t have any quarterbacks on their roster who remotely resemble Trey Lance’s skill set. There’s a free agent quarterback who not only has a similar skill set, but also has familiarity with Kyle Shanahan, and wants to sign with the 49ers.
Former No. 2 overall pick Robert Griffin III is ready to jump into a mentorship role for Lance following a few years as a journeyman bouncing from Washington, to Cleveland, to Baltimore. He joined Bleacher Report’s coverage during the draft and said he’s open to a reunion with Shanahan.
“I’m excited for him. I think it’ll be great,” Griffin said after explaining the rigors of joining the Shanahan offense as a rookie. “And to be honest with you, I don’t think they have a guy on the roster that would be better situated than myself to come in and mentor the kid. So, who knows? Maybe there’s a reunion in store with the Shanahans.”
Griffin burst on the scene in 2012 when he was a Pro Bowler and Offensive Rookie of the Year with Mike Shanahan as Washington’s head coach and Kyle Shanahan running the offense. He passed for 3,200 yards, 20 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He also rushed for 815 yards and seven touchdowns.
The other quarterbacks on the 49ers’ roster are Jimmy Garoppolo, Nate Sudfeld, Josh Rosen and Josh Johnson. Johnson is a good athlete, but he’s several years older than Griffin and doesn’t have the depth of experience in Shanahan’s offense.
If San Francisco does decide Lance needs that type of mentor, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Shanahan bring in his former QB.
