Cowboys bail out 49ers on draft bust, make instant Jerry Jones classic Trey Lance trade
By Adam Weinrib
Not 30 minutes ago, we published an article declaring the Dallas Cowboys to be "boneheaded" if they dared to surrender actual capital for quarterback Trey Lance, suddenly available two years after being selected third overall by the San Francisco 49ers.
And look at us now! Refusing to backtrack on that notion despite the trade being completed in a flash.
Reportedly, it required only a mid-rounder for Jerry Jones to provide Lance with a fresh start, which felt inevitable once the Niners declared Sam "Seeing Ghosts" Darnold to be their backup QB behind a stunningly healthy Brock Purdy.
Lance's limited collegiate experience didn't deter the Niners from selecting his enticing talent two years ago, when they passed on more established collegiate names like Justin Fields, Mac Jones and -- if San Francisco was feeling frisky -- Cowboys stud Micah Parsons, taken 12th overall.
Two years later, with a similarly limited amount of NFL experience under his belt, surpassed by Mr. Irrelevant en route to the Niners' NFC title game appearance last season, Lance will now head to Dallas to learn under Dak Prescott.
Trade: 49ers are sending their former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance to the Dallas Cowboys for a mid-round, per sources. Lance now gets a fresh start in Dallas. pic.twitter.com/UxKNpljktv
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 25, 2023
Dak Prescott Contract Details after Cowboys' Trey Lance Trade
Prescott's not going anywhere just yet ... right?
Despite the Cooper Rush shenanigans of the previous several seasons, and despite the out in the current QB's contract after the 2023 season (!!!), it's extremely unlikely Dallas decides to move on for the younger, completely unproven talent under center (a career five TD passes and three picks across two seasons). Honestly, it's unclear at this point whether Lance even is a quarterback, let alone a viable alternative to the Cowboys' current signal caller.
This is what Jerry does, though. Two years ago, the Niners found Lance "third overall pick" enticing. Two years later, after collecting all the information they needed on him, they desperately searched for a buyer until Dallas stepped in, eager to follow in the footsteps a savvy team took way back in 2021.
Hopefully, this either pans out or fizzles out/is of little consequence. Anything short of disaster would be fine.
Disaster, though? That would, of course, be disastrous.