After a short tenure with the San Francisco 49ers, 2021 No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance has been traded to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2024 fourth-round pick, according to Adam Schefter.
With only a short time before the regular season starts, the 49ers have pulled the plug on what was thought to be their franchise quarterback. Their quarterback room now consists of Brock Purdy, Sam Darnold, and Brandon Allen. This is coming a few days after the 49ers announced that Darnold had won the backup position over Lance, who according to 49ers GM John Lynch, was “devastated” to hear the news. Nonetheless, the 49ers and Cowboys have completed the trade, now it’s time to see the winners and losers.
Who Are the Winners and Losers of the Trade?
Winner: Trey Lance
A fresh start for Lance is exactly what he needs right now. John Lynch spoke on Lance during on KNBR and stated:
“Trey made incredible leaps and bounds this year and I think his games showed that. I give him a lot of credit because we didn’t tailor an offense around him that highlights a lot of the things Trey is able to do and I think he grew from that.”
Why wouldn’t you tailor your offense around your franchise quarterback who you selected third overall? A guy selected that early in the draft, especially at the quarterback position, is more than likely your franchise guy.
Although the 49ers do have a Super Bowl-level roster, having an offense not tailored to your quarterback is only hurting him, not helping him, which is why a fresh start for Lance is exactly what was needed.
Loser: San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers gave up three first-round picks and a third-round pick to acquire Lance, only to get a fourth-round pick back when it was all said and done.
They seemed to have lost the gamble that they took to move up in the draft. The Miami Dolphins, the recipients of those picks, turned them into Jaylen Waddle, Tyreek Hill, and Bradley Chubb. That trade could possibly go down as one of the worst trades in NFL history.
Could the 49ers have waited until the trade deadline to see which teams needed a quarterback? Or did they think this was the best offer they would receive?
Winner: Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys get a raw talent who still needs development for only a fourth-round pick. If he reaches or surpasses the ceiling that he had coming out of the draft, then this is an absolute steal for the Cowboys. Plus, they get another quarterback they can develop since their backups aren’t as good as many in the NFL.
Loser: Dak Prescott
This trade could also be the foreshadowing of Dak Prescott‘s time coming to an end with the Cowboys.
He’s currently 30 years old and going on his eighth year in the league, with only two playoff wins under his belt. The Cowboys may have just put Prescott on the clock, considering the fact that Dallas also have a Super Bowl-ready roster.
Prescott is currently on the last year of guaranteed money in Dallas, and his contract expires in 2025. Which also happens to be the same year as Lance’s fifth-year option.
The clock is ticking for #4 in Dallas.
The real winners and losers of the trade will be determined once we see the type of player Trey Lance actually is. With only four career starts in the NFL, it’s hard to get a good look. The potential is there, and the world is waiting to see what he’s got. Many people are already calling him a bust, and it’s his turn to respond.
