Niners' Draft Busts: Lance & Thomas

0:00On April 21st, the San Francisco 49ers have dodged a lot of draft bullets over the last 50 years, even with their rollercoaster ride through. Super Bowls and Playoff Heartbreaks, USA Today ranked the biggest NFL draft bus from those five decades, and only two Niners made the cut. Quarterback Tray Lance at number four and, defensive lineman Solomon Thomas at number 39. For Lance, the team traded four picks, including three first rounders, to grab him third overall in 2021. He barely got a shot due to injuries and a rough development path, starting just one year before they moved on after two seasons, shipping him two. Dallas for a fourth round pick, now he's backing up with the chargers. Fans still cringe thinking about what the Niners missed. Guys like Jamar Chase, Penae Soule, Patrick Sertain, or Michael Parsons, went right after him, and became stars. It's a classic case of betting big on a franchise quarterback that didn't pan out, hitting the team hard on draft capital.

1:02Thomas came third overall in 2017 out of Stanford, but he flopped relative to that spot. They traded his third round pick later, which the Saints turned into Pro Bowl running back Alvin Camara, wasting even more value from an earlier deal. Both busts happened under General Manager John Lynch and Coach Kyle Shanahan, yet that era brought steady playoff runs. It shows even smart teams stumble on drafts, but strong coaching and other moves keep them winning. You've been listening to NFL News today, AI-powered football coverage.