Three years ago, the San Francisco 49ers acquired the No. 3 pick in the draft and selected quarterback Trey Lance from North Dakota State University. The hope was that Lance would surpass Jimmy Garoppolo as the starting quarterback, but injuries and lack of playing time left his potential unfulfilled.
Eventually, the 49ers discovered their franchise quarterback in Brock Purdy, the last pick of the 2022 draft, making Lance expendable. General manager John Lynch remarked on the decision to trade Lance to the Dallas Cowboys, acknowledging the risks taken in acquiring him originally.
After limited playing time as a rookie, Lance was named the starter for the 2022 season but suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2. This prompted Garoppolo to reclaim his spot until he was also injured later in the season. These injuries led to Purdy taking over and excelling for the 49ers, leading them to two NFC Championship Game appearances and Super Bowl LVIII.
Currently, Lance is the backup quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys behind Dak Prescott. With uncertainty surrounding Prescott’s contract situation, there is a possibility that Lance may see playing time with the Cowboys in the near future.
