San Francisco 49ers trade Trey Lance to Dallas Cowboys, according to reports
Aug 25, 2023, 4:35 PM | Updated: 4:47 pm

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 27: Trey Lance #5 of the San Francisco 49ers works out during training camp at SAP Performance Facility on July 27, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
After months of drama, a Trey Lance trade by the San Francisco 49ers has finally happened.
Reports surfaced Friday afternoon that the 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys are in the process of finalizing a trade that will send the disgruntled quarterback to Texas. San Francisco will reportedly receive a 2024 fourth-round draft pick for Lance, far less than the value of the player at a position of desire.
The news was reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport Friday, with local media confirming the news thereafter.
Trade: 49ers are sending their former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance to the Dallas Cowboys for a mid-round, per sources. Lance now gets a fresh start in Dallas. pic.twitter.com/UxKNpljktv
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 25, 2023
After the team named fellow QB Sam Darnold as the backup to Brock Purdy, the writing was on the wall for Lance’s 49ers tenure. The third-year prospect was not seen on the practice field Wednesday, excused after hearing the news that morning.
While the 49ers would have liked to keep their former third-overall draft selection, they also wanted to do what was best for the player’s career.
“It’s been a tough road for him because the times he has got an opportunity, he ended up getting hurt and missing that window,” coach Kyle Shanahan stated on KNBR Wednesday. “We’ll always try to do right for Trey. If there’s a better situation that his heart’s in, we’re going to make sure not to hurt him in that way. So, that’s something I talked to him about this morning and stuff that I’ll talk to him about tonight and continue to talk to him about.
“Trey knows how I feel about him and I hope he ends up being able to be here and that’s the best thing for him, but we’ve got to see what is the best thing from now until then.”
Trey Lance, 23, was selected with the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Entering Year 3, the QB has started only four games, holding a record of 2-2. He has thrown for 797 passing yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions in the NFL.
The 49ers QB depth chart is set:
1, Brock Purdy
2, Sam Darnold
3, Brandon Allen— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) August 25, 2023
The gunslinger has been bombarded by injuries and inconsistency since joining the Red & Gold, suffering a second-ending ankle fracture in Week 2 of last season. He now heads to Dallas where he will compete with Dak Prescott for minutes under center. The Cowboys will take on the remaining $6.25 million of Lance’s deal over the next two seasons.
On the other end, San Francisco moves forward with Brock Purdy as the team’s starter, hoping he can lead them to Super Bowl trophy No.6.
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