New 2024 mock draft crushes Cowboys dreams of trading Trey Lance

NFL free agency has all but arrived and Trey Lance is one of biggest talking point ssurrounding the Dallas Cowboys. Just like we all drew it up. Forget Dak Prescott's contract, the future of Michael Gallup, cap casualties and rumors of potential free-agent targets.

It's the Cowboys' third-string QB stealing headlines and rightfully so given the magnitude and randomness of the rumors. On Monday, NFL Network's Rich Eisen revealed his top five rumors he heard at the NFL Combine and he mentioned Lance as a potential trade target for the Minnesota Vikings.

Kirk Cousins is a free agent and could be headed to the NFC South. Per Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, Cousins is "seriously considering" moving his family to Atlanta, which would hint that Cousins will sign with the Falcons. That would force the Vikings to start from scratch at QB.

Equipped with the No. 11 overall pick, Minnesota is seemingly too low to draft one of the top prospects. Or are they?

Draft expert Dane Brugler of The Athletic ran a post-Combine mock draft and he has Minnesota moving up to No. 7 overall to select Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy.

The Vikings drafting J.J. McCarthy would crush the Cowboys dreams of trading Trey Lance

In Brugler's projected trade, the Vikings ship picks No. 11 and No. 109 overall, including a 2025 second-rounder to the Titans for the seventh pick. That's a steep price to pay, but McCarthy's stock has skyrocketed since the end of the college football season. He's undoubtedly the biggest riser among quarterbacks.

The Vikings taking McCarthy would crush the Cowboys dreams of trading Lance. Though Brugler is among the most esteemed draft experts in the industry, this mock doesn't confirm Minnesota will move up to select McCarthy.

After all, a number of teams could be in the McCarthy market. That includes the rival Giants, who pick No. 6 overall. Eisen heard at the Combine that New York is "done" with starter Daniel Jones. That would open the door wide open for the Giants to take a QB early, even if six might be a bit rich for the Michigan product.

Beyond the Giants, the Titans (seventh pick), Falcons (eighth pick), Broncos (12th), Raiders (13th) and Saints (14th) could all want a QB and are too far back to nab one of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye.

The Vikings aren't the be-all, end-all path to a Lance trade for the Cowboys. They do, however, feel like the most likely team to take a chance on Lance. Minnesota reportedly almost called Dallas about trading for Lance after Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles in November.

Luckily for Dallas, McCarthy's stock will only continue to rise between now and April 25. Some prognosticators think he could be a top-five pick. He could force himself out of the Vikings comfort zone as far as a potential trade-up.

It all hinges on what Minnesota is hearing on or before draft night, but this mock should definitely raise alarms in the Cowboys front office.

More Cowboys analysis