It is easy to get caught up in rumors and recent reports about what the San Francisco 49ers may do with former No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Trey Lance. 

There is no doubt that the team is fielding calls about the young quarterback. There is doubt as to whether they are making the calls themself. But amidst the drama, it is important to remember what has actually been said about Lance from San Francisco general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan. 

So, let's take a trip down memory lane, to just a few weeks ago when Lynch and Shanahan were fawning over their young quarterback's chances at earning his starting spot back. 

"Trey had the position going into the year," Shanahan said of his former starting quarterback. "We were real excited about that and we think he would've had a hell of a year. He only got one and one-quarter games and then he went out… Brock [Purdy] played eight games and won all of them and played at an extremely high level. We believe Trey can be that. 

"I think he would have done it last year if he had stayed healthy. The good thing for him is with Brock being hurt and stuff, he has an opportunity to try and regain that. That's also why we brought in Sam [Darnold]. Because we can't be set for sure on Brock because you never know how the injury will go. We think it will go well. We're optimistic about it but right now that's on hold. So that opens up an opportunity for Trey and for Sam to come in and show us what they have." 

Just a thought: amid rumor mill hysteria (which happens EVERY offseason), it’s wise to keep what Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch have actually said about Trey Lance and the QB position in mind.

Wild speculation almost never ages well — and that’s an annual occurrence: pic.twitter.com/p8lUCfNPAU

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) April 20, 2023

It is easy to get caught up in who said what, and what rumor confirmed which truth. But often, the simplest answer is the right answer. 

The 49ers like Lance. They risked a top-three pick on him in the 2021 NFL Draft. To part with a player they invested high draft capital on and time to develop would take the perfect offer. Right now, that offer doesn't seem to be out there. 

That doesn't mean it will never show up, but it just hasn't come yet. Which is fine. Lance, with Purdy hurt for assuming all of training camp, has an opportunity to assert himself as the best option at the quarterback position. 

Darnold, though imperfect, is no slouch either. 

It is easy to get wrapped up in rumors. They are exciting and intriguing. But the truth is Lance is still on the roster for the foreseeable future, and it is clear that the 49ers want to see what he can do coming off a season-ending injury. 

“He just needs to play,” Lynch said in March. “You need to be out there. So often in our league injuries stand in the way of a player improving because it’s hard. You just start to conquer things where you can move on to the next thing and, boom, there’s a setback.”

He then added about the quarterback position: “We’re very happy with what we have at the quarterback position… There may be a need for an additional quarterback. That’s all I’m saying. We can’t close our eyes to that and say, ‘Hey, we’re good,’ but that’s part of this business."

Rumors are rumors until something changes.