Former Dallas Cowboys QB Trey Lance has signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, up to $6.2 million. The 24-year-old quarterback was the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. Currently, he is on the Chargers as the backup for Justin Herbert. This decision marks an exciting new chapter for Lance. He’s looking to jumpstart his own career after a tumultuous period with his past organizations.
Lance’s path to the NFL started at North Dakota State University. There, he flexed his talent in a mere 19 games before opting to declare for the draft. Even with a lack of college experience, he was praised for his sky-high potential and elite athleticism. He opened his professional career even better, starting with 62 straight starts to the prolific beginning. While Koetter was able to find success with Garcia and others, his time in San Francisco was robbed by injuries and inconsistent play.
In 2023, Lance’s season came to an early close too after he fractured his right index finger during Week 14 action. In two full seasons with the 49ers, he made only four starts – going 2-2 in those games. He passed for 797 yards, throwing for five touchdowns and three picks on a 56-of-102 clip. His overall on-field performance fell short of the lofty expectations that followed him to the league.
Then after being traded to the Dallas Cowboys for a fourth-round pick in last year’s draft, life threw more adversity his way. His 2023 season ended without him seeing any action. He made minimal impact in 2024 until he got his first start in the regular-season finale versus the Washington Commanders. In that game alone, he had an exceptional completion rate of 58.8% and threw for 244 passing yards. He didn’t have any touchdown passes or picks, plus added 26 yards rushing on six attempts.
Currently with the Chargers, Lance will be the backup quarterback, giving the Chargers some depth behind their franchise guy in Herbert. This signing likely means that Easton Stick is done as the team’s third-string QB. The Chargers have a fascinating opportunity to harness Lance’s many skills and potential as they head into next season with big plans.
Leave a Reply