It feels like only yesterday that the Dallas Cowboys swung a colossal trade, snagging the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft from the San Francisco 49ers. Fast forward just shy of a year, and Trey Lance’s journey with the Cowboys has been nothing short of a rollercoaster.
Lance’s Preseason Exploits
The 2023 preseason showcased Lance in full throttle. He took 209 snaps, including all 93 in the exhilarating finale against the Chargers. Picture this: Lance, a maestro orchestrating the field, amassing 323 passing yards with a touchdown, plus electrifying the ground game with a jaw-dropping 90 rushing yards. His pièce de résistance? A breathtaking 46-yard touchdown run. But, oh boy, did the interceptions come pouring in—five in total, capped by a soul-crushing pick-six.
Jones’ Sentiments
Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, delivered a mixed verdict, “I saw some good, and I saw some things you’d like to have back,” he admitted, his eyes reflecting the game’s dramatic highs and lows. Jones, ever the optimist, emphasized the crucial need for reps scattered like rare gems in Lance’s career.
“It’s a situational blessing,” Jones elaborated, “The kid needs reps—more than anything else, and fewer NFL reps have hamstrung his development. But certainly, being on our roster is in the cards.”
The Financial Implications
The Cowboys find themselves in a fiscal straitjacket, with Lance set to count a hefty $5.310 million against their salary cap. And here’s the clincher—all that green is guaranteed. As one of the few NFL teams sporting a third quarterback on their main roster, it’s a head-scratcher, especially given his uncertain future post-season as his contract ticks down.
No Regrets on the Trade
Yet, Jones remains undeterred by the trade’s eyebrow-raising financials. “For a fourth-round pick? ¡Estás bromeando!” he chuckled, recalling their drafting prowess with Dak Prescott, a fourth-round gem from 2016. “We’ve struck out plenty with fourth-rounders too.”
Performance Breakdown
Spanning three preseason games, Lance’s resume reads like a high-stakes adventure: 73 completions from 113 attempts, 662 passing yards, two touchdowns—balanced precariously by five interceptions. On the ground, he showcased his agility with 168 rushing yards and two touchdowns over 24 carries.
Jones lauded Lance’s notable growth, “The last six weeks have been like watching a flower bloom in a rainstorm. The arrow is not just going up; it’s shooting skyward like a rocket. The boy’s getting better practice by practice, game by game.”
The Uncertain Future
For a young quarterback who’s played just eight NFL regular-season games (starting four), and with a scant 1,000 plays since his high school days, Lance remains an enigma, a puzzle piece whose future is still hazy. But Jones remains hopeful, citing the inestimable value of Lance’s preseason plays. “If I could’ve scripted this, I’d be tickled to get even two-thirds of what we saw,” he confessed. “Tons of invaluable reps, and I’ve seen flashes of winning brilliance.”
The tale of Trey Lance in Dallas continues. Stay tuned, mis patas, as we ride this wild NFL wave together!
