The Dallas Cowboys have some quarterback questions to answer in the coming seasons. Dak Prescott goes into 2024 as the starter, but he is in the last year of his deal. An extension has not been reached, and all indications point to Jerry Jones letting his quarterback play out the deal. If Prescott leaves, the Cowboys have a huge need at quarterback. They do have an intriguing prospect in Trey Lance on the roster, whom they acquired last off-season via trade. However, he will also be in the last year of his deal as the team declined his fifth-year option.
Dallas Cowboys Decline Option On Trey Lance
It isn’t necessarily shocking the Dallas Cowboys decided to pass on the fifth year of the contract. Because he was a former third-overall pick, his price tag was hefty. Picking up the option would have put Dallas on the hook for $22.4 million guaranteed next year. Trey Lance hasn’t played enough to earn that type of money. The team has also made it clear they want to get Prescott extended, which means they would be paying over $20 million for a backup.
It isn’t that the team doesn’t think he is improving. Jerry Jones talked about Lance in an interview during last weekend’s draft.
“We think Lance is a good addition looking ahead. I’ve got him right here in this draft as if he was a draft pick for us.”
The news coming out of the Dallas Cowboys camp is positive about Trey Lance. They like the progress he is making, and with another year on the team, he may start making massive strides.
What Will Happen With Lance?
Barring injury, Trey Lance will spend the 2024 season on the bench, the same place he spent the 2023 season. This makes his future tricky to predict. On the one hand, he is a former third-overall pick at a premium position. A quarterback-needy team could scoop him up on a cheap, prove-it deal and see what he’s got. On the other hand, teams could stay away as he has been going on for multiple years without seeing the field.
Ultimately, it would shock me if the Dallas Cowboys didn’t re-sign him to a deal. If the team has invested this much time and effort into the young player, it seems foolish to let him walk out of the building. For Trey Lance, the coaching staff has gotten to know him, so he might be more inclined to stay with the team.
What 2025 and beyond will look like depends on what the Dallas Cowboys do in 2024. If they finally find playoff success, there will likely be very few changes to the roster. If they fall flat again, massive changes could be coming, which would have a huge effect on what happens with Trey Lance.
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Matt Brown has been following sports since he was a kid. It does not matter what sport he is talking about; he tends to be an expert in it. When he is not glued to following sports, he is a banker in Wisconsin and hosts two podcasts, Beers and Ears & Discontinued on Display.
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