Trey Lance will obtain one other probability within the NFL. The previous No. 3 total choose is signing with the Chargers, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
This can give the previous North Dakota State star a possibility to turn out to be Justin Herbert‘s backup, although Taylor Heinicke
also re-signed last month. Lance will be part of the Bolts on a one-year deal value as much as $6.2M. This now takes all 4 of the 2021 first-round QBs who hit free company off the board, as Justin Fields (Jets), Zach Wilson (Dolphins) and Mac Jones (49ers) had discovered properties already.
Speak of a potential Cowboys-Lance reunion did commence, however the workforce made different plans post-Cooper Rush. Dallas let the 2023 commerce acquisition hit free company and has since traded for Joe Milton. Lance came up as a Colts option, however Indy paid up for Daniel Jones on a one-year deal to push Anthony Richardson.
Lance’s profession arc has doubled as one of many strangest in fashionable QB historical past. His breakthrough faculty season occurred again in 2019 — a stupendous 28-touchdown, zero-interception slate that introduced one other Bison Division I-FCS title — however the COVID-19 pandemic nixed the FCS 2020 fall slate. Lance declared for the 2021 draft and commanded appreciable curiosity, resulting in a 49ers misstep. Amazingly, San Francisco didn’t lose a lot floor due to the Lance trade-up — a transfer that value two first-round picks and a 3rd — however the dual-threat QB’s fall in San Francisco was definitely a notable improvement for one of many 2020s’ high groups.
Lance continues to be simply 24, and even after seeing a while following Dak Prescott‘s 2024 hamstring damage, he has thrown simply 143 passes in 4 seasons. Contemplating how mild his faculty workload was, Lance has merely not seen a lot motion since a dominant season at simply 19. The 49ers gave Lance their Week 1 beginning job in 2022 however did so after regrouping with Jimmy Garoppolo — a participant who spent months on the commerce block as Lance readied for starter work. Lance’s ankle fracture in Week 2 of that season moved Garoppolo again into motion, and after Brock Purdy‘s gorgeous emergence, Sam Darnold beat out Lance for San Francisco’s QB2 job in 2023, resulting in the Dallas commerce.
It’s notable that Mike McCarthy didn’t flip to Lance following Prescott’s damage, as an alternative going with a known commodity (Rush) for a lot of the season’s second half. Lance began only one recreation final season, a Week 18 encounter towards Washington. Dealing with a playoff-bound Commanders workforce, Lance accomplished 20 of 34 passes for 244 yards. This did contain a fourth-quarter go-ahead drive towards a Washington workforce taking part in defensive starters (and the Cowboys resting CeeDee Lamb), however Lance had thrown simply seven 2024 passes previous to that recreation.
It seems Lance could have one other probability to win a backup gig, one Heinicke (32) held after the Bolts weren’t happy with Easton Stick‘s work throughout the summer season. Heinicke re-signed on a one-year, $2.5M deal, so it is going to be fascinating to study the bottom worth of Lance’s pact.
Lance brings upside nonetheless, however his ceiling has definitely caved in after underwhelming rookie contract work. Lance, who rushed for 1,100 yards and 14 TDs throughout his redshirt freshman efficiency, already made $34.1M on his rookie deal. Jim Harbaugh and Co. will now check out the depressed asset on what quantities to a flier.
