49ers Trade QB Trey Lance to Cowboys

The former No. 3 overall pick gets a fresh start behind Dak Prescott in Dallas.

Luke Easterling | Aug 25, 2023

49ers Trade QB Trey Lance to Cowboys /

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The San Francisco 49ers are trading quarterback Trey Lance to the Dallas Cowboys, per multiple reports.

In return, the Cowboys are sending a fourth-round draft pick to the 49ers.

The No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Lance spent his rookie season backing up veteran starter Jimmy Garoppolo. After winning the starting job over Garoppolo to start the 2022 season, Lance suffered a season-ending ankle injury.

The emergence of seventh-round rookie Brock Purdy last season, and the signing of veteran Sam Darnold this offseason, left Lance as the odd man out in the 49ers' quarterback room heading into the 2023 regular season.

Now, Lance gets a fresh start in Dallas, where he'll have the opportunity to back up Dak Prescott.

It's a wild turn of events for Lance and the 49ers, as San Francisco gave up three first-round picks to move up and select Lance at No. 3 overall just two years ago.

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Published Aug 25, 2023

LUKE EASTERLING

Luke Easterling (he/him) has been covering college football and the NFL for more than two decades, with a particular focus on the nexus of both, the NFL Draft. Writing for some of the largest and most recognizable brands in sports media, Luke's experience and expertise in evaluating potential NFL prospects and evaluating team needs/fits has earned the appreciation of his readers, and the respect of his peers. Luke cut his sports journalism teeth at The Tampa Tribune before spending two years at Bleacher Report as a featured columnist covering the NFL Draft and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Luke then spent nearly seven years at USA TODAY Sports Media Group as editor of Draft Wire and Bucs Wire, building both into authoritative destination sites for their respective audiences. Now at The Arena Group, Luke covers the NFL and college football for Athlon Sports, and runs Sports Illustrated's FanNation site for the NFL Draft. A graduate of the University of South Florida, Luke has been a featured guest on ESPN Radio, CBS Sports Radio, Fox Sports Radio, SiriusXM and more. Based in Tampa, Florida (the true home of the Cuban sandwich), Luke plays the drums, loves 2000s pop-punk, watches way too many British murder mystery shows, and channels the energy of his deep-south Grammy and his full-Italian Nana in the kitchen. Twitter: @lukeeasterling Email: luke.easterling@si.com