Report: Trey Lance, Los Angeles Chargers agree to terms on one-year deal

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the former Cowboys and 49ers quarterback Trey Lance reached an agreement on Friday to a one-year deal worth up to $6.2 million with the LA Chargers. Lance and Taylor Heinicke are now behind starting quarterback Justin Herbert in their signal-caller rotation.

Stephen Jones believed Lance was out the door

Stephen Jones shed some light on the Dallas Cowboys‘ plans for their quarterback room, including the future of former first round pick Trey Lance. The team’s CEO and co-owner stated his belief that Lance, who was selected with the third-overall pick of the 2021 draft by the San Francisco 49ers and traded to Dallas for a 2024 fourth-round pick, will be wearing a different team’s jersey in 2025.

During his college career with North Dakota State, Lance completed 65.4% of his passes for 2,947 passing yards, while tossing in 30 touchdowns with one interception. As a runner, he had 192 rushes for 1,325 rushing yards and 18 total touchdowns.

“We took a shot a Trey and wanted to do that,” Jones told The Dallas Morning News, regarding the Cowboys’ acquisition of Lance. “We think the world of Trey. But us having Dak (Prescott) signed up for the long-term, I think he’s probably going to be looking for something different.”

It seemed like Lance was never a fit in Dallas, especially after he barely saw the field when Dak Prescott’s season ended due to injury. The Cowboys rode with Cooper Rush, but he’s also headed to free agency this offseason, as well. For his career so far, Lance has completed 56.6% of his passes for 1,063 yards, while tossing in five touchdowns and four interceptions.

In the final preseason game, Lance threw for 323 yards, running for 90 yards, while tossing in five interceptions. While Rush filled in admirably, and he’s been a solid backup for Prescott over the past couple of seasons, Jones does believe his play in 2024 might price the franchise out of the 31-year-old remaining with Dallas.

“You know how much we think of Cooper,” Jones added. “We just don’t know what he’s going to cost. When we’re paying Dak what we’re paying him, unfortunately we do have to go cheap there.”

So, who will be Prescott’s backup in 2025? Well, Jones believes Dallas will take a shot on a young quarterback in the draft, and hope they can develop them into a solid backup, at the least.

“You know, I think one of our goals is to get a young quarterback in the draft,” Jones proclaimed. “I don’t know where that’s going to be.

“That’s why we gave a [fourth-round pick] for Trey. It seems like all the quarterbacks, even guys we have in the fourth round, go in the first. They always go so much higher than what you think.”

Regardless, Stephen Jones recognizes the Cowboys will need Dak Prescott healthy if they’re to return to form in 2025, but it should be obvious they can’t count on that wholeheartedly going into another season. The backup quarterback position is one of the more important holes the team needs to fill, and it’ll be fascinating to see what direction they go.

On3’s Steve Samra also contributed to this article.