49ers’ 2021 Decision Ranked the ‘Biggest NFL Draft Mistake’ of the Past 10 Years

The San Francisco 49ers' decision to select Trey Lance with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft has been labeled one of the biggest draft mistakes of the past decade. The selection remains a major talking point because of the resources San Francisco surrendered to move up and the limited return it ultimately received from the quarterback.

The 49ers entered the 2021 draft holding the No. 12 pick before making a blockbuster trade with the Miami Dolphins to move into the top three . San Francisco sent multiple first-round selections and additional draft capital to acquire the opportunity to select a quarterback it believed could become the centerpiece of the franchise.

Lance arrived with considerable potential after starring at North Dakota State, where his combination of arm strength, athleticism and rushing ability made him one of the most intriguing prospects in the class. However, his transition to the NFL proved difficult, and injuries further complicated his development after he arrived in San Francisco.

The quarterback started only a handful of games for the 49ers before the organization eventually moved on. San Francisco traded Lance to the Dallas Cowboys in 2023, ending a brief tenure that failed to produce the long-term starting quarterback the team envisioned when it invested heavily in moving up the draft board.

San Francisco 49ers' Trey Lance Decision Named Biggest NFL Draft Mistake of the Decade

San Francisco's decision to select Lance in 2021 stands out as the biggest draft mistake of the decade. This is detailed more in an analysis by Joey Akeley for Bleacher Report.

Drafted: No. 3 overall, 2021 This was the clear-cut answer for the No. 1 spot in these rankings. It has as much to do with the San Francisco 49ers' process as the pick itself. The Niners wanted to move up from the 12th pick to take a quarterback, but they weren't sure which one they wanted. Despite not knowing, they gave up first-round picks in 2022 and 2023 and a 2022 third-round pick to move up from No. 12 to No. 3 a month before the draft.

This was the clear-cut answer for the No. 1 spot in these rankings. It has as much to do with the San Francisco 49ers' process as the pick itself.

The Niners wanted to move up from the 12th pick to take a quarterback, but they weren't sure which one they wanted. Despite not knowing, they gave up first-round picks in 2022 and 2023 and a 2022 third-round pick to move up from No. 12 to No. 3 a month before the draft.

The opportunity cost also remains an important part of the discussion surrounding the decision. The draft capital used to acquire Lance could have provided San Francisco with additional opportunities to strengthen its roster, making the unsuccessful quarterback gamble more significant when viewed against the team's eventual need to build around other players.

Lance's selection therefore continues to stand as a defining moment in the 49ers' recent draft history. While the decision was based on the belief that he possessed the physical tools to become a franchise quarterback, the combination of limited playing time, injuries, the eventual trade and the substantial cost of moving up has left the pick as one of the most costly misses of the decade.