San Francisco 49ers Trade Quarterback Trey Lance to Dallas Cowboys, Ending Disappointing Stint

In a surprising move, the San Francisco 49ers have traded quarterback Trey Lance to the Dallas Cowboys for a fourth-round pick. This trade comes less than three years after the 49ers traded three first-round picks to draft Lance with the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Lance, who was set to play in the 49ers' preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers, will now have a fresh start in Dallas. It is expected that he will serve as the backup to Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Lance's time in San Francisco was a major disappointment, as he suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2 of the 2022 season after appearing in just six games during his rookie campaign.

Former 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who led the team to the NFC Championship Game, weighed in on the Lance trade to the Cowboys. Garoppolo, who is now with the Las Vegas Raiders, expressed his happiness for Lance and his belief that Lance deserves another opportunity. Garoppolo referred to Lance as a brother and expressed his support for him.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was also asked about the trade and whether he was surprised by it. Prescott, who has been in the league for eight years, stated that it is not surprising to see younger players trying to take starting spots in the NFL. He emphasized that competition is a part of the league and that there is always a younger player looking to take your spot.

Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke about the trade and revealed that Lance expressed his desire to go to an organization where he had the opportunity to be the backup quarterback. Shanahan acknowledged that the situation in San Francisco did not work out as planned and that they believed Lance would benefit from a new opportunity. He also mentioned that there were multiple teams interested in Lance, but the Cowboys ultimately acquired him.

General manager John Lynch acknowledged that the Lance trade did not work out as expected but expressed his excitement for Lance's future in Dallas. He stated that the Cowboys were eager to acquire Lance and that he believes it will be a great landing spot for him. Lynch also took accountability for the trade not working out and emphasized that Lance's story is still unwritten.

Lance's departure from San Francisco means that Brock Purdy will be the starting quarterback for the 49ers. Purdy, who was drafted with the final pick in the 2021 draft, emerged as the team's starter last season after both Lance and Garoppolo suffered injuries. Purdy's unexpected success solidified his position as the starter for this season.

As for Lance, he will now be the third-string quarterback in Dallas. He has appeared in eight regular-season games and started four in his NFL career, throwing for 797 passing yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. Lance will have the opportunity to learn and grow behind Prescott in hopes of salvaging his NFL career.

The trade to Dallas provides Lance with a fresh start and a chance to prove himself in a new environment. While his time in San Francisco may not have gone as expected, Lance now has the opportunity to make a name for himself in Dallas and write a new chapter in his NFL journey.