The 49ers have agreed to trade 2021 No. 3 pick Trey Lance to the Cowboys for a 2024 fourth-round pick, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Friday’s news comes after Lance fell below veteran Sam Darnold on San Francisco’s depth chart, making him the third quarterback for the franchise with the regular season approaching. As a result, the 49ers have been widely criticized for their 2021 trade that sent three first-round picks, as well as a 2022 third-round pick, to Miami in order to move up from No. 12 to No. 3 to select Lance.
Badly in need of a fresh start, Lance will now get to sit and learn behind Dak Prescott in Dallas.
Trade: 49ers are sending their former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance to the Dallas Cowboys for a mid-round, per sources. Lance now gets a fresh start in Dallas. pic.twitter.com/UxKNpljktv
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 25, 2023
Labeled a bust during his brief time in the NFL, the former North Dakota State standout began his first season as the backup to veteran San Francisco starter Jimmy Garoppolo. While battling a knee injury, Lance would appear in six games and make two starts, posting a 1–1 record in his rookie campaign.
After being named the starter for the 2022 season, Lance suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2 against the Seahawks. Seventh-round rookie sensation Brock Purdy was recently named the club’s starter again for 2023, leaving Lance third on the 49ers’ quarterback depth chart, also behind Darnold.
