There was a glimmer of hope that Trey Lance could return to the Dallas Cowboys after longtime backup Cooper Rush signed a two-year pact with the Ravens to back up Lamar Jackson.
However, any remaining hope of a Lance reunion ended swiftly on Thursday when Dallas acquired Joe Milton from the Patriots in what essentially amounts to a day three pick swap. The Cowboys got a seventh-round pick in addition to Milton and jettisoned a fifth-round comp pick.
Milton was comfortably the best choice of any of the practical QB2 options. That includes potential day three picks like Quinn Ewers (Texas), Dillon Gabriel (Oregon) and Riley Leonard (Notre Dame). While Milton needs to refine his game, his upside is more than worth a day three swap.
Time will tell if the move pans out, but Milton is under contract for pocket change through the duration of his rookie deal. Lance, on the other hand, got a surprisingly handsome contract from the LA Chargers, who already have Taylor Heinicke backing up Justin Herbert.
Trey Lance's Chargers contract makes Cowboys' Joe Milton trade look even better
Lance signed a one-year contract with the Chargers worth up to $6.2 million.
While not far off from Lance's $5.31 million cap hit last season, it was reported just last week that Lance could join the Canadian Football League if his NFL free agency continue to drag on. That he could make upwards of $6 million in 2025 is incredible business by his representation.
Lance will presumably duke it out with Heinicke for the backup job in training camp. Heinicke is multiple years removed from leading Washington to the playoffs in 2021 and finishing 5-3-1 as a starter in 2022, there is no comparing his career with that of Lance. The former No. 3 pick has his work cut out to leapfrog Heinicke for the QB2 role.
RELATED: Latest details make Cowboys' Joe Milton trade look even better
Milton, meanwhile, will cost the Cowboys just $960,000 next season. That will be followed by palatable cap hits of $1.075 million in 2026 and $1.19 million in 2027, respectively. In total, Milton will cost a total of $3.225 million over the next three seasons, per Over The Cap.
The likelihood of Joe Milton turning into a star is very low. But at $3.5 million over the next three years for the small price of a Day 3 pick swap? That is really good business.
Yes, it has similarities to the failed Lance trade, but as a 2024 sixth-round pick Milton's contract is night and day compared to Lance, who was drafted third overall by the 49ers. Milton is also a better athlete with a much stronger arm.
We'll be rooting for Lance to find success with the Chargers, but the Cowboys upgraded across the board by trading for Milton.