Injuries, Unprofessionalism, or Zero Utility—Why Did the 49ers Give Up on Trey Lance as the 23YO QB Moves to the Cowboys?

The 49ers appear unable to elude quarterback controversies. From the quarterback-turned-social activist Colin Kaepernick‘s turmoil to the present situation with a 23-year-old QB, San Francisco‘s quarterback situation is always on the floating boat. Adding to this, the revival of the NFL’s third-quarterback rule has pushed San Francisco to delve deeper into its quarterback scenario.

This week, the spotlight has been firmly on San Francisco within the NFL sphere, and not solely due to their on-field performance. In a surprising turn of events, the Dallas Cowboys managed to acquire Trey Lance, a former No. 3 overall pick, from the San Francisco 49ers on Friday night, relinquishing a future fourth-round pick in the process. But what compelled the Bay Bombers to trade Lance to the Cowboys?

The competition took away Lance’s spot?

The San Francisco 49ers have traded quarterback Trey Lance to the Dallas Cowboys, a surprising move considering the hefty investment of around $34 million they made in drafting him just three years ago. In 2021, the Nines traded three first-round picks and a third-rounder to draft Lance third overall. However, Lance’s time with the team was marked by limited opportunities and setbacks. Despite high hopes of becoming a franchise quarterback, he started only a couple of games due to injuries and competition.

Lance’s departure comes after losing the backup quarterback competition to Sam Darnold earlier in the week. The Niners General Manager John Lynch expressed, “Really hard day. Such a wonderful young man. We took a shot and it didn’t work out. We own that. We take accountability for it….I’m excited for Trey. Dallas stepped up and really wanted him and they came after him. I think it will be a great landing spot for him.”

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Curiously, the Cowboys were unlikely contenders in the Lance trade discussions, making their acquisition of him a rather unexpected turn of events.

The long wait is over for the Cowboys

In their pursuit of an extra quarterback this season, Dallas aimed to address a gap. Jerry Jones’ prior commitment to select a quarterback in 2023 didn’t materialize due to the top five picks being off the board. Trey Lance’s acquisition fits strategically, aligning with their plan to secure a player akin to those taken later. Presently, Cooper Rush stands as the Cowboys’ backup quarterback. While he has shown promise with a 5-1 record as a starter, deeper analysis exposes certain shortcomings in his performance.

Contrastingly, Lance embodies the attributes of the modern-day quarterback. The NFL landscape has shifted towards quarterbacks with exceptional physical attributes—size, arm strength, and mobility. Lance’s 6-foot-4, 224-pound frame aligns with this trend. Furthermore, his proficiency in the run game adds to his value. This quality is reminiscent of early-career Dak Prescott before his injury setback. Although Lance also experienced a similar injury, his younger age and less substantial contract make the Cowboys less apprehensive about his role in short-yardage or goal-line situations.

In essence, the trade for Lance responds to the Cowboys’ pursuit of a quarterback in sync with the evolving demands of the game.

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