The last time the
49ers took a quarterback at the top of the draft was 2005.
Media members flocked to Alex Smith’s initial rookie minicamp that spring. A bank of television cameras focused on his first-ever snap. Everyone grew silent in anticipation of what felt like a significant event.
And then … Smith mishandled his initial snap, the first in a series of rickety steps he took before becoming the steady, reliable starter he’d be known as for most of his career.
Trey Lance’s NFL practice debut Friday had no similarly remarkable moments.
Even for a rookie minicamp — helmets, shorts, no pads — the session had an informal vibe. Due to the pandemic, teams could only bring in five tryout players, so the overall number of players on the field was low.
