Cowboys Trade: Surprising Link to 49ers QB Trey Lance

The Dallas Cowboys are being linked to a potential trade for San Francisco 49ers QB Trey Lance as a potential replacement for Dak Prescott.

The Dallas Cowboys have solidified their starting quarterback position for the 2023 season with Dak Prescott, but there are rumors circulating about a potential move for San Francisco 49ers QB Trey Lance. While Prescott is firmly entrenched as the team's starter, the Cowboys could be interested in grooming Lance as a potential replacement in the future.

Lance, who was selected as the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, has faced some challenges in the early stages of his NFL career. He is currently listed as the third-string QB on the 49ers' depth chart and there have been talks of a possible trade. Nate Davis of USA Today suggests that the Cowboys could be a landing spot for Lance.

While Prescott is undeniably the leader of the Cowboys, Davis believes that Lance could benefit from sharpening his skills in Dallas, where he could fly under the radar for a while. Davis points out that Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy previously had Brett Favre as his QB1 before transitioning to Aaron Rodgers, so there is a precedent for developing young quarterbacks under McCarthy's guidance.

While the idea of a trade for Lance is intriguing, it's important to note that the Cowboys are just one of several teams being mentioned as potential landing spots. The quarterback sweepstakes of the 2021 NFL draft had its winners and losers, and it seems that the 49ers may have been among the losers. They traded up to the No. 3 spot to select Lance, giving up valuable draft picks in the process.

The 49ers took a cautious approach with Lance, allowing him to sit behind Jimmy Garoppolo as a rookie in 2021. However, injuries to Garoppolo provided Lance with some opportunities to start. Unfortunately, his season was cut short by a major ankle injury just two weeks into the campaign. As a result, Brock Purdy took over the starting role for the remainder of the year.

According to Pro Football Reference, Lance made a total of 8 appearances and started in 4 games for the 49ers. He completed 56 of 102 passing attempts, accumulating 797 passing yards with 5 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. He also showcased his rushing ability, gaining 235 yards on the ground and scoring a touchdown.

While the Cowboys are linked to a potential quarterback of the future, there are also reports suggesting that they are working on a new deal with Prescott. Despite already having a lucrative contract, the team may be looking to restructure or negotiate a new agreement.

According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, the Cowboys and Prescott have already begun discussions about a new deal. While nothing is imminent, there is a clear motivation for the team to address Prescott's 2024 cap hit, especially as they consider extensions for other key players like Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb.

Without a new deal or restructuring, Prescott's cap hit in 2024 would be a staggering $59.4 million. In order to retain their promising young talent, the Cowboys will likely need to make some adjustments.