Former first-round pick Trey Lance is expected to explore his options in free agency this March. After beginning his NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers in 2021, Lance has spent the past two seasons as a backup with the Dallas Cowboys.
The 49ers traded Lance to Dallas for a 2024 fourth-round pick, which ultimately became safety Malik Mustapha.
"We took a shot [at] Trey and wanted to do that," Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones, son of owner Jerry Jones, told The Dallas Morning News this week (h/t NBC Sports Bay Area). "We think the world of Trey. But us having Dak signed up for the long-term, I think he's probably going to be looking for something different."
Quarterback Dak Prescott, the NFL's highest-paid player, isn't going anywhere, and Jones noted that the Cowboys plan to add quarterback depth through the draft this offseason.
San Francisco selected Lance with the No. 3 overall pick in 2021, surrendering their first-round pick that year, along with first-rounders in 2022 and 2023, plus a third-rounder in 2022, to move up in the draft. The move is considered the most costly mistake of the Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch era.
Fortunately for the 49ers, they struck gold with the final pick of the 2022 draft, selecting quarterback Brock Purdy. Injuries to Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo paved the way for Purdy to become the team's starter, resulting in the departure of the two others.
The 49ers are expected to sign Purdy to a lucrative contract extension this offseason, making him one of the NFL's highest-paid players. How close his new deal comes to Prescott's $60 million average annual salary remains a hot topic among analysts and fans.
Lance appeared in four games (one start) for the Cowboys last season, completing 61% of his passes for 266 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception. He also added 41 rushing yards on 11 carries.