By Solomon 
The Dallas Cowboys took a gamble in 2023 by trading for Trey Lance, a former first-round pick from the 49ers who never quite lived up to expectations. They gave up a fourth-round pick for him, but now, two years later, they’re moving on—just like the 49ers did before them.
At the time of the trade, Dak Prescott was caught off guard. But now, with his big contract secured, the Cowboys don’t see a future for Lance in Dallas. Team CEO Stephen Jones made it clear that with Prescott locked in, Lance will likely be looking for opportunities elsewhere.
Lance’s NFL journey has been rough. The 49ers originally traded three first-round picks and a third-rounder to move up and draft him in 2021, but he never became the franchise QB they hoped for. By 2023, San Francisco admitted their mistake and sent him to Dallas for a fourth-rounder.
The Cowboys, however, never truly gave him a shot. Even when Prescott suffered a season-ending injury in 2024, head coach Mike McCarthy opted to start Cooper Rush instead of Lance. It wasn’t until the final game of the season—after the Cowboys had already been eliminated from playoff contention—that Lance got a start. He didn’t throw or run for a touchdown, and Dallas lost 23-19 to Washington.
Now, with Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb taking up big chunks of the salary cap, the Cowboys have hinted at a quiet offseason. With little room to spend, they’re looking to the draft for a new backup QB. Jones admitted that finding a solid young quarterback will be a priority, but he also noted that QBs always get drafted earlier than expected.
As for Lance, he’ll hit free agency, hoping to find a team that will actually give him a chance to prove himself.