Full details of Cowboys-49ers Trey Lance trade finalized after NFL Draft

The Dallas Cowboys might have the Trey Lance trade to blame as to why they struck out on selecting a running back in the NFL Draft. Without a fourth-round pick, the Cowboys had to wait over 70 picks between their final pick in round three (No. 87 overall) and first pick on day three (No. 174 overall).

Only four running backs were selected over the first three rounds, but the run started in the fourth round of all places. This included a number of RBs that Dallas wanted: Jaylen Wright, Ray Davis, Bucky Irving and Braelon Allen.

It's almost ironic that the Trey Lance trade came full circle on the day where the Cowboys were snubbed from taking a running back. With the fourth pick they acquired from Dallas in exchange for Lance, the 49ers selected Wake Forest safety Malik Mustapha.

Full details of Cowboys-49ers Trey Lance trade revealed during NFL Draft

The final results are incomplete for both teams. That is obviously a terrible look for the Cowboys. Granted, they acquired Lance in August right after training camp with the regular season on the horizion. It was impossible to expect anything of Lance last year and served as the emergency QB on game days behind starter Dak Prescott and backup Cooper Rush.

Incredibly, Mustapha could impact the 49ers before Lance ever leaves his stamp on the Cowboys. That's unless you count preseason, where Lance is expected to receive extensive reps as he looks to supplant Rush as QB2 behind Prescott.

Mustapha is viewed as one of the most best tackling defensive backs in the class. In three years at Wake Forest, he compiled 175 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, four sacks, three interceptions, four forced fumbles and 20 passes defended.

The former Demon Deacon could slot in as a starter alongside 2023 third-round pick Ji'Ayir Brown. Together, they're expected to fill the void left behind by All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga, who remains unsigned as a free agent after he suffered a torn ACL in late November.

It remains to be seen how Mustapha will pan out in the NFL. However, Cowboys fans will undoubtedly be following his career arc closely given how costly Lance was in terms of how it impacted Dallas' drafting strategy. It isn't the end of the world that they didn't draft a running back, but odds are it would've been a forgone conclusion if they didn't cough up a fourth-rounder for Lance.

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