The 49ers' process of grooming rookie quarterback Trey Lance to take over as the 49ers' starter has already begun.
Lance was scheduled to meet Saturday with 49ers quarterback coach Rich Scangarello to learn some elements of the 49ers’ offense and pick up materials to take back home with him.
Then, Lance will return to Santa Clara on Wednesday, May 12, for the 49ers’ rookie minicamp. The 49ers' eight draft picks, undrafted rookies and first-year players are allowed to take part in the sessions.
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“We usually do our rookie minicamp the first week,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Saturday. “We’re not doing that this year because you can’t have the same amount of tryout guys. So we’re going to do it the second week.”
This offseason, the NFL has limited the number of rookies allowed into camp for tryouts to just five free agents per team due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Lance is the 49ers’ highest-profile rookie after the club invested the No. 3 overall pick in the North Dakota State star on Thursday night. San Francisco traded the No. 12 pick, as well as first-round picks in 2021 and 2022 to the Miami Dolphins in March in order to select Lance.
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Lance traveled to the Bay Area with his mom, dad and brother to see the area and visit club officials and coaches at Levi's Stadium. When he returns to the Bay Area, he will be remain for a while.
“We have the rookie minicamp, then they can hop in on that Monday (May 17) with all our players,” Shanahan said of the NFL’s offseason program. “That’ll be the first day of Phase Two, which is the first day we’re really allowed to see them in person.”