At 3-5, the once-contending Dallas Cowboys could trade former first-round pick Trey Lance to a team with actual Super Bowl aspirations. The third-overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers moved heaven and earth to land a player they believed could take them further than Jimmy Garoppolo. After spending his rookie season on the bench, the North Dakota State product suffered a season-ending injury two games into the 2022 season and lost his job to seventh-round pick Brock Purdy.
Now on the Cowboys, Jerry Jones gave up a fourth-round pick for his services before extending Dak Prescott. While having insurance at the quarterback position is important for a contender, the Cowboys are fighting an uphill battle to make the playoffs. With Cooper Rush already on the roster in case Prescott goes down, the Cowboys could trade Trey Lance for whatever they can get. Nobody will give up another fourth-rounder for his services, but teams like the Arizona Cardinals and Baltimore Ravens could send a late-round pick for additional insurance at the game’s most important position.
Ravens, Cardinals Could Trade For Trey Lance
The Baltimore Ravens are on the short list of Super Bowl contenders, and two-time MVP Lamar Jackson is the primary reason for the success. While the entire roster is one of the league’s strongest, Jackson is the engine that powers the whole machine. Only one or two quarterbacks in the league can replicate his on-field production, and Trey Lance is not one of those players. However, if the quarterback has to miss a week or two, Lance could keep the ship afloat better than current backup Josh Johnson.
Playing for seven NFL teams, an AAF team, and an XFL team, Josh Johnson was never particularly good even at the peak of his powers. Now that he’s playing in his age-38 season, it’s safe to assume his physical abilities are at an all-time low. Trey Lance will never live up to his pre-draft billing, but the trade target should be more useful than Johnson. If Jackson goes down for the year, Baltimore’s season is over. However, if the reigning MVP needs to miss a week or two, Lance can step in and keep the Ravens in the race for the AFC North.
The Surprise Contenders
Through nine weeks of action, the 5-4 Arizona Cardinals sit atop the NFC West. Jonathan Gannon’s squad showed some fight when Kyler Murray returned to the lineup last year, and they carried that momentum into the 2024 season. While Gannon proved he could win games with a solid quarterback, the early portion of the 2023 season showed how bad this team can be without Murray. Arizona went 1-8 last year with Josh Dobbs and fifth-round pick Clayton Tune, and they can’t afford a similar slip if Murray gets banged up in 2024.
While general manager Monti Ossenfort improved the roster throughout the offseason, he neglected the backup quarterback position. Tune is the only other passer on the team, and last year’s results show he’s not good enough to play in extended stretches. Trey Lance might not be ready to start, but the trade candidate is an explosive athlete who you can scheme around. Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing knows how to get the most out of a mobile quarterback, and Lance’s scrambling ability is second to none.
Main Photo: Neville E. Guard – USA Today Sports
