26 August 2023 , 00:21
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The San Francisco 49ers agreed to trade quarterback Trey Lance to the Dallas Cowboys on Friday. They will receive a future fourth-round draft pick in return.
According to ESPN, the 49ers were forced to accept a lesser offer than they wanted because their demotion of Lance to third-string duties this past week plummeted his trade stock. He was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Dallas will likely use Lance as their backup to Dak Prescott, though Cooper Rush could remain in the mix for that duty. Rush has played 16 games filling in for Prescott since 2017.
Lance lost his role as San Francisco's backup to Sam Darnold in a dramatic twist that showed how far he has fallen in NFL circles since coming into the league as a top prospect.
While Lance's miserable summer doesn't paint him in a flattering light, his remaining supporters will point out that he still hasn't had an extended chance to prove himself in the NFL.
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He opened 2022 as the 49ers' starter, beating out Jimmy Garoppolo and Brock Purdy, but lost his place after a season-ending ankle injury. San Francisco then all-but promised Purdy the job this summer before determining they wouldn't even select Lance as the second choice.
In eight career NFL games, Lance has completed 56-of-102 passes for 797 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. He's also run for 235 yards. Some fans might be surprised that the best offer the 49ers received was from the Cowboys, who already have a clear starting quarterback, but perhaps no one was willing to try him as the top option this year with the regular season about to start.
Dak Prescott will remain the Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback in 2023 despite the addition of Trey Lance. (Getty Images)One day before the 49ers struck the agreement with Dallas, general manager John Lynch had suggested he wanted to hold on to Lance in what now appears to have been posturing. He told KNBR keeping the passer was the "most likely result." However, Lynch added that "if we can find a landing spot for Trey that is a really good one for him and works for our organization, that's not something that we'd turn a blind eye to."
Lance has kept a low profile this month, not posting to social media since late-July and turning down chances to criticise San Francisco's decision-making through the media. But he has admitted that his offseason performances were not up to par.
"That was definitely frustrating," he said after struggling in a preseason loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. "But I obviously put it on myself to continue to be better, make sure the guys around me are ready to go, I'm ready to go. It starts with me, so I put that on myself.
"I'd say more than anything just things were opening up. Had a good feel for what they're doing, especially after these joint practices. So, felt good even going into the game those first few drives. Just miscommunication, guys on different pages and got to execute."