The San Francisco 49ers made a surprising move by trading quarterback Trey Lance to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a fourth-round pick. While speculation about a trade involving Lance had been circulating, the destination surprised some people. This trade raises some questions about the future of both Dak Prescott and the 49ers. Here's a breakdown of the situation:
Lets start off with the implications for the San Francisco 49ers. Back in 2021, the 49ers pulled off a trade with the Miami Dolphins to secure the third overall pick, which they used to select Trey Lance. The Dolphins used that trade to acquire Jaylen Waddle, Tyreek Hill, and Bradley Chubb. In hindsight, the Dolphins clearly won the trade. However, we can't just label Lance a bust. The 49ers' handling of Lance's development has been the reason he hasn't blossomed. He was never truly given the opportunity to establish himself as the QB1. Clearly, they were happy with just Purdy and Darnold as their QB's. Hopefully, the change of scenery to Dallas might allow Lance to thrive and potentially become a cornerstone for their franchise. But, overall, the 49ers' decision to move on from him might have been a little premature.
Turning attention to the Dallas Cowboys, their acquisition of Trey Lance appears to be a great move, particularly considering the relatively low cost of a fourth-round pick. As for Dak Prescott, his performance has shown signs of decline, which makes the arrival of Lance an interesting storyline for the upcoming season. The presence of Lance will undoubtedly create pressure on Prescott to perform at an elite level. If Prescott fails to deliver this season, the Cowboys could entertain the idea of parting ways with him in the following year, potentially clearing the path for Lance to assume the starting role. On the flip side, if Prescott excels, Lance could serve as a cheap backup. He has the potential upside of an elite QB1, and at his floor, he's a solid backup. He has great weapons in CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and Tony Pollard. To make it even better, the Cowboys have one of the best defenses in the NFL.
Overall, bringing in Lance for that cheap was a great move for the Cowboys. On the 49ers side of things, trading up for Lance was probably the worst trade in franchise history.
First Look at Trey Lance in a Cowboys Jersey:
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