After Kyle Shanahan traded up to select North Dakota State product Trey Lance with pick 3 in the 2021 NFL Draft, Jimmy Garoppolo would’ve been well within his rights to give Lance the Brett Favre treatment.

Though, Garoppolo has acted on the principle of paying it back — just like Tom Brady did for him all those years ago in Foxboro.

Speaking at Carson Wentz’s charity softball game, Lance said “Yeah, it’s been awesome,” via Jackson Roberts of KVRR.

“He’s a great guy. I mean, one of the best people I’ve been around and I’ve been fortunate to be around some, I think, really really great people, guys that are going to play today and guys still in that locker room right now. Jimmy is just like it and that organization is the same exact way.

“So I just feel very blessed and fortunate to be where I am and be able to be a part of something like this. I’ve heard from other guys’ experiences and how we handled OTAs and things like that, our coaching staff and everyone that runs that organization does it at a really high level.”

Despite the hype surrounding Lance and his freakish physical gifts, people shouldn’t be quick to forget Garoppolo was one deep ball away from securing San Fransisco its first Super Bowl since 1995.

It seems as if Jimmy G will get his chance to lead the 49ers toward another postseason but make no mistake Lance is the future, and if Garoppolo doesn’t perform, he may well become the present.