Trey Lance, the former starting quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, has been traded to the Dallas Cowboys for a 4th round pick.
Trey Lance was drafted third overall in the 2021 draft. The 49ers traded 3 first round picks and a third round pick to the Miami Dolphins in order to move up and draft Lance. During his rookie season, he played in eight games, starting four of them.
He was the backup to former 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garappolo. In this time, he had 5 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, and 603 total yards, with a rating of 97.3. He was named the starting quarterback during the 2022-2023 season. However, during his second season, he would only start in two games.
In the second game of the season against the Seattle Seahawks, he would suffer an ankle injury, which would put him out of the rest of the season. After this, Jimmy Garappolo, who was the backup to Trey Lance, would hurt his foot in their matchup against the Miami Dolphins, causing Brock Purdy to enter the game, and be the starter for the rest of the season. He would then go on to be undefeated in the regular season, and led the team to the NFC Championship, where the Philadelphia Eagles would win 31-7.
This performance by Purdy, who was the last pick in the 2022 draft, caused him to be looked upon highly favorably, by both fans and management. There was heavy debate over who would be the starter for the next season. After Jimmy Garappolo was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders, the job for starter was only between Trey Lance and Brock Purdy.
Three days before the starters were announced, it was revealed that Trey Lance had been traded to the cowboys for a fourth round pick.
Why make this trade? NFL fan and fantasy league owner Christopher Paylo says that for the 49ers, “He didn’t really fit the Kyle Shanahan model. He’s [Kyle Shananhan] a big of an offensive control freak, he’s got a great system, but he seems to have thrived most with a quarterback that is more traditional “run the offense.” It’s hard not to be in “win now” mode. When Trey got hurt and Brock Purdy came in and gave them consistent play even though he’s young, it’s a Kyle Shanahan play.”
And for the Cowboys? “Because Jerry Jones is always thinking he’s the smartest guy in the room, and it’s a move thinking he’s buying low on a quarterback who was 3rd overall just a couple years ago,” says Paylo.
But what’s in store for the cowboys in the future with Trey Lance? “He’ll be great as a backup. But I think he’s not gonna be with the cowboys in a few seasons. Unless he gets in and plays well, he’ll want to start, Dak Prescott has good years ahead of him, so we’ll see Trey Lance looking to move on to have a shot where he can compete,” Paylo adds.
