Before the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis late last month, Dallas Cowboys EVP/CEO Stephen Jones told David Moore of the Dallas Morning News that the Cowboys “think the world of Trey Lance” but do not anticipate him to return to the organization.
However, weeks later, the Cowboys may need to reconsider re-signing Lance for another season. On Sunday, veteran quarterback Cooper Rush agreed to a two-year contract for up to $12.2 million to be Lamar Jackson’s backup in Baltimore.
Rush spent several years as Dak Prescott’s backup. There was a level of comfort with Rush, and Dallas understood that if Prescott was injured, he could step in and start if necessary.
Now that Rush has left for Baltimore, the Cowboys lack experience at quarterback number two, which brings us back to Lance.
The Cowboys gambled on the previous third-round pick, dealing a fourth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers for Lance in August 2023. The former North Dakota State quarterback spent the last two years as the third quarterback, studying from Rush and Prescott.
Lance did not play in 2023, but the Cowboys wanted to get a better look at him during the preseason. The former 49ers quarterback shown some sparks, but there was definitely space for development.
The rookie quarterback completed 64.6% of his passes, totaling 662 yards, two touchdowns, and five interceptions. He also rushed for 168 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Despite Prescott’s season-ending hamstring injury, the former North Dakota State standout saw little playing time last season. However, he began the Cowboys’ regular-season finale against the Washington Commanders.
Lance didn’t set the world on fire in Week 18, but he did complete 58.8 percent of his passes (20-of-34) for 244 yards and added 26 rushing yards.
However, if you are the Cowboys and want someone who knows the scheme, re-signing Lance would not be a bad idea. He’s still young enough to develop into a quality QB2.
However, Dallas is expected to consider picking a quarterback to be the QB2, with Will Grier as the QB3. Would a rookie quarterback perform better than Lance? That is difficult to answer at the present, but it is a subject the Cowboys must address.
