Trey ͏Lance, once ͏heralded as a promising ͏quarterback prospect, now͏ finds himself in a precarious position as a free ͏agent ͏without a team͏. After being selected third overall ͏͏by the San Francisco 49ers͏͏͏ in the 2021 NFL Draft, expectations were high. However,͏ his career ͏has been ͏marred by injuries and ͏limited playing time, leading analysts to speculate that ͏his ͏NFL career might be ͏͏nearing its end.
Trey Lance’s NFL ͏Future Remains Uncertain as Free Agency Moves Forward͏
Lance, once ͏a highly ͏touted first-round pick ͏by͏ the 49ers, now finds himself without an NFL͏ team. Despite free agency ͏being open ͏for some time, ͏Lance remains unsigned, leading NF͏L analyst Grant Cohn to speculate ͏that his career could be over.
Lance, ͏who was traded to the Dallas ͏Cowboys͏ after losing ͏his position to Brock͏ Purdy, failed ͏to secure a backup role even when starter͏ ͏Dak Prescott ͏was ͏injured. ͏His inability to͏ climb the ͏depth chart has͏ ͏͏raised concerns about his future prospects ͏in professional football͏.
Cohn emphasized Lance’s uncertain position.
“It’s Sunday, March ͏23, ͏and Lance still hasn’t ͏signed with an NF͏L ͏team. He’s a ͏free-agent backup quarterback along with Joe͏ Flacco, ͏Carson Wentz, Drew Lock, C͏͏.J. Beathard, Case Keenum, and Easton Stick. These all are quarterbacks ͏who might not play in the NFL͏ next season. Which means Lance’s ͏NFL career could be over,” Cohn writes.
The Cowboys’ preference for Cooper Rush over Lance last season further complicates his chances of securing a significant role on any NFL team.
“They played Rush ahead of Lance when [Dak] Prescott went down for the season. It’s also highly unlikely that a team would sign Lance to be their No. 2 quarterback,” Cohn argued. Those guys can’t be projects. They need to be functional quarterbacks who can win a few games if the quarterback gets injured for a month. That’s not Lance. He’s not experienced enough.”
Given Lance’s situation, Cohn suggested that the quarterback has two primary options: stepping away from football entirely or seeking opportunities in the Canadian Football League (CFL).
“He can quit and live comfortably for the rest of his life since he has been paid more than $34 million in his career. Or, he can show everyone how much he loves football and how unfairly written-off he has been and go sign a contract with a team in the Canadian Football League. And kick butt,” Cohn writes. “That’s what former 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia did one time, and he went on to be a highly successful NFL starter in his 30s.”
Lance’s limited college experience has been a consistent knock against him, and his lack of playing time in the͏ NFL ͏has done little to prove otherwise. If he wants to continue his football career, the C͏FL͏ may provide him͏ with an opportunity͏ to showcase his abilities and potentially make a comeback in the NFL. Otherwise, his time in the ͏league may have already ended.