Trey Lance, a potential young quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, has been moved to the Dallas Cowboys in an unexpected turn of events, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport’s report on Friday. The careers of Lance and the two NFL teams involved have both advanced significantly as a result of this deal.
According to NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero, the 49ers will acquire a fourth-round pick in 2024 as part of the trade for Trey Lance. It’s important to note that the 49ers aggressively invested in Lance, selecting him with the third overall choice in the 2021 NFL Draft after sending three first-round picks to the Miami Dolphins.
Sam Darnold won the competition for the backup quarterback position earlier in the week and the 49ers announced that Lance will be listed as the team’s third-string quarterback on the depth chart, behind Brock Purdy and Darnold. Given the lofty expectations that had accompanied Lance’s progress, this choice caused some controversy.
John Lynch, the general manager of the 49ers, expressed his thoughts on the transaction and acknowledged that it was a difficult choice. During the preseason game broadcast, Lynch said, “Really hard day, such a wonderful young man.” “We tried something, but it didn’t work. Ours is that. We accept responsibility for it. But as I believe you all to believe, his narrative is still mostly untold. For Trey, I’m thrilled. They pursued him because Dallas stood up for him and genuinely wanted him. And I believe it will be a fantastic landing spot for him.
Trey Lance went on to say that the decision was influenced by Lance’s issues with injuries and the team’s desire to succeed. Despite the trade, he praised Lance’s character and work ethic and wished him well in Dallas.
Kyle Shanahan, the head coach, also offered his thoughts on the trade, expressing his conviction that Trey Lance may succeed in the future, whether it be with the 49ers or another team. The young quarterback’s time with the 49ers had been hampered by injuries, which reduced his chances to demonstrate his abilities.
Trey Lance Games:
According to NFL Research, Trey Lance played eight games in two seasons for the 49ers, which was the fewest games played by a top-five pick for the team he made his debut with since the common draft period began in 1967. Lance now has the chance to relaunch his career with a new beginning in Dallas.
The 49ers will only get back a small portion of what they spent on Lance when they dealt with Miami as a result of the transaction, though. Initially, it was anticipated that the young quarterback would lead the team in San Francisco into the future.
Lance had potential as a starter during his brief time on the field, compiling a 2-2 record with 797 passing yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. Injury was a major factor in his struggles; after suffering a broken finger and injured knee in his rookie year, he shattered his ankle just two games into the 2022 campaign, ultimately terminating his season and paving the way for Purdy to take over as the current starter.
There are concerns about how Trey Lance will fit into the Cowboys’ current depth chart after moving to Dallas. Dallas’ undisputed starter is Dak Prescott, with Cooper Rush and Will Grier serving as his back-ups. Rapoport claims that Lance will likely serve as the backup quarterback, though there may be room for improvement. Despite the difficulties he has encountered, Lance is only 23 years old and is a low-cost investment for the Cowboys, who might still have faith in his ability to develop into the extraordinary talent that was once promised.
Trey Lance will be paid $6.25 million over the following two seasons, fully guaranteed, with the Cowboys having the option of a five year extension should the scenario call for it. The Cowboys now have an intriguing potential to work with in the upcoming seasons thanks to this trade, which also opens up an intriguing new chapter in Lance’s career.