Can the Cowboys trade Trey Lance, or is he in Dallas for the year?

The Cowboys dedicated much of their efforts this summer to testing quarterback prospect Trey Lance. The former No. 3 overall pick was picked up in a late August trade with rival San Francisco. Before training camp little was seen of the North Dakota State gunslinger.

Lance, 24, lacked experience since entering the NFL in 2021. It was clear he had the tools but unknown if he knew how to use those tools effectively. In order to find out the Cowboys had to throw him into the fire, both in training camp and in preseason games. And they did just that, giving Lance heavy reps in practice and the lion’s share of work in the preseason.

Lance didn’t light the world on fire in either regard. In practices it was obvious he was the third-best QB in camp and in games he looked a fringe NFL player. He frequently flashed the same traits that made him a top pick, but he also reaffirmed he wasn’t close to being ready to play winning football either.

The Cowboys are in a pickle of sorts because Lance is scheduled to count $5,310,717 against the salary cap, which is more than what most teams want to dedicate to the QB3 position. Lance is still valuable in some regard as a developmental piece, but it would have to be on the right team for the right dollar amount.

The Cowboys have to answer whether or not that’s in Dallas under his scheduled cost or if there are alternatives. Based on Jerry Jones’ comments, he’s committed to the cause, but words aren’t actions and things could be happening behind the scenes.

“Certainly, we plan on him being on our roster, for sure,” Jones said of his young QB.

If the Cowboys are open to the idea of trading Lance, these are exactly the type of statements Jones would be expected to say. A trading team doesn’t want to float the idea the player in question might get cut loose. But since Dallas would receive zero relief by cutting Lance, it’s safe to assume Jones was being truthful and Lance’s spot on the 53-man roster is fairly safe.

Teams with ugly QB situations in 2024, like the Vikings, Panthers and Raiders, might be interested in kicking Lance’s tires, so to speak, but trade compensation and his scheduled salary are not attractive handcuffs. The likelihood of anyone offering anything more than a conditional pick for Lance is pretty slim so he’s likely to stay on as an expensive developmental prospect for the duration of his deal.

Lance isn’t much of a tradeable asset nor is he a viable backup option. He’s a high-priced depth piece likely to stay in Dallas and unlikely to see the field again this year.

An offer for Cowboys fans

For the best local news, sports, entertainment and culture coverage, subscribe to the Austin American-Statesman.

$1 for 6 months