49ers trade fourth-round pick quarterback Trey Lance to the Cowboys
On Saturday, August 19, 2023, in Santa Clara, California, during the second half of the 49ers’ NFL football preseason game against the Denver Broncos, quarterback Trey Lance (5) of the San Francisco 49ers searches for a receiver. 49ers victory, 21–20. (AP via Santiago Mejia and the San Francisco Chronicle)
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On Saturday, August 19, 2023, in Santa Clara, California, following an NFL preseason football game against the Denver Broncos, quarterback Trey Lance of the San Francisco 49ers meets with reporters. (Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo)
California’s Santa Clara (AP) — Less than three years after dealing three first-round picks to draft quarterback Trey Lance third overall, the San Francisco 49ers dealt Lance to the Dallas Cowboys for a fourth-round selection.
Just hours before the Niners’ exhibition game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday, Lance had already lost to Sam Darnold for the position of Brock Purdy’s backup in San Francisco earlier in the week.
Coach Kyle Shanahan stated, “We told him he was going to be the three, and he did. If he could find another opportunity that was good, we’d allow him to do that.” “We think he’ll benefit from it, and we probably will too.”
After the Niners made a big commitment in the hopes of Lance being a franchise quarterback, this move is a startling retreat.
However, the 23-year-old quarterback who only received four NFL starts is now being let go by the 49ers.
According to general manager John Lynch, “We take full accountability.” “That is our property. Additionally. However, I believe that his story is largely unwritten. I have great faith in the child. With his talent and work attitude, I believe he can carve out a successful career in this field.
Before being picked by the Niners, Lance started just 17 games for FCS-level North Dakota State, and he was never given the opportunity to obtain the necessary NFL experience.
During his debut season, he primarily supported Jimmy Garoppolo, starting just two games as a replacement because to an injury to his throwing hand’s finger.
Last season, Lance was given the starting job, but it didn’t last for more than five quarters because he injured his ankle early in the second week and missed the remainder of the campaign.
Shanahan remarked, “I always feel like I let Trey down.” “I wished for him to arrive here. Trey has my faith. I’m the one who took the risk to believe in him before we took him. I felt that he needed to play, but I didn’t thrust him into the thick of things right once. Thus, we made an effort to consider every option.
With the final draft pick in 2022, Purdy entered the game late and won his first seven starts, assuming the starting position going into the current campaign.
“It kind of goes to show you that everything can change overnight in the NFL, including positions, appearances, and the depth chart,” Purdy remarked. It’s crazy, like a “Welcome to the NFL” moment.
After failing to make an impression with the Jets and Carolina—despite being selected third overall by New York in the 2018 draft—Darnold was signed by San Francisco in free agency. In the end, Darnold outperformed Lance in the first two preseason games and workouts.
The Niners didn’t think Lance could get the playing time he needed to grow better because Purdy would be getting practically all of the practice time once the season started and Darnold would be in charge of the scout team.
Lynch stated, “There’s just not a whole lot of opportunity to get better.” That is what he must accomplish. In order to improve, he must play. That, in my opinion, will be his chance to play—ideally in games—but leading scout team. That was not going to happen to us.
For the franchise on which he made his debut, Lance has the fewest starts of any quarterback selected in the top five of the draft during the common draft era—four. Jack Thompson, who was selected third overall in 1979 and started five games for Cincinnati, had the previous low.
In his brief NFL career, Lance has completed 56 of 102 passes for 797 yards, five touchdowns, three interceptions, and an 84.5 passer rating. In addition, he has run 54 times for 235 yards and one touchdown.
Now that his rookie agreement is coming to an end, Lance will be available to the Cowboys. He is owed $940,000 this year and will receive a guaranteed $5.3 million the next season.
For the most of Dak Prescott’s Dallas career, Cooper Rush has been his backup; in fact, he went 4-1 last season when filling in for Prescott after the quarterback fractured his thumb in the first game.
Will Grier, who has been the third baseman for the last two seasons without playing in a game, looks to be out of a job with this transaction.
