When Trey Lance was taken with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, it was widely thought he had star potential.
At North Dakota State, he showed flashes of his potential by throwing for 2,786 yards, 28 touchdowns and no interceptions while adding 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground in 2019.
But he barely played for the 49ers, partly due to a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2 of the 2022 campaign that paved the way for Brock Purdy to become their starter.
Lance spent the last two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, and he has now agreed to a generous one-year contract to join his third team in his brief NFL career.
“Former Cowboys and 49ers QB Trey Lance reached agreement today on a one-year deal worth up to $6.2 million with the Los Angeles Chargers. Lance and Taylor Heinicke are now behind starting QB Justin Herbert,” ESPN insider Adam Schefter wrote on X.
ESPN sources: former Cowboys and 49ers QB Trey Lance reached agreement today on a one-year deal worth up to $6.2 million with the Los Angeles Chargers. Lance and Taylor Heinicke are now behind starting QB Justin Herbert. pic.twitter.com/CaOZiWMLPa
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 4, 2025
Lance appeared in just four games for Dallas, even though Dak Prescott missed the last nine games of the 2024 season due to a hamstring injury.
Now, the 24-year-old could be third on the Chargers’ depth chart.
The Niners gave up a lot — three first-round picks and a third-round pick — to the Miami Dolphins in order to acquire the pick they used on Lance, and they ultimately have nothing to show for it, which has led most to call the deal a failure and Lance a bust.
On the other hand, Purdy quickly emerged into a star, and just like that, San Francisco found its first legitimate franchise QB since Steve Young retired.
The Chargers also have a legitimate franchise QB in Herbert, and they made the playoffs last season in Jim Harbaugh’s first season as their head coach.
NEXT: J.K. Dobbins Reveals If He Wants To Return To The Chargers
