Burned by the Cowboys: Trey Lance’s Dallas Controversy: Benched and Betrayed by the Cowboys
It was just three offseasons ago when Trey Lance entered the NFL as a walking highlight reel—a quarterback dripping with potential and hype. Development now stalled, Lance is stuck on the Dallas Cowboys’ bench as the 2024 season winds down; reputation bruised and financial prospects bleak.
The $22.4 million fifth-year team option from his rookie deal? Forget it.
Even this year’s $5.3 million base salary has been labeled an overpayment. From a value-theory perspective, one has to wonder: Is Lance depreciating due to his own shortcomings, or has institutional neglect fostered his fall?
Trey Lance: A Gamble Gone Wrong or Neglected Potential?
Drafted third overall in 2021, Lance was a gamble from the start. Critics warned of his raw mechanics and limited experience at North Dakota State, but NFL analysts couldn’t resist his rocket arm and dual-threat potential.
Zack Hicks hit the nail on the head; “If he is rushed into action with a weak supporting cast, it could kill his NFL career. If he ends up in a good situation that takes the time to develop him and work with him and has a proper plan in place… he could be outstanding.”
San Francisco seemed to have such a plan in place—until injuries and the Brock Purdy Cinderella story shoved Lance aside. The trade to Dallas was supposed to be a fresh start. Instead, it’s been more of a slow fade.
Despite Mike McCarthy’s sermon about the importance of game reps and building chemistry with receiving targets for a quarterback’s development, Lance’s opportunities have been virtually nonexistent.
With the Cowboys limping out of playoff contention, Dak Prescott sidelined for the season, and Cooper Rush serving as a serviceable-but-meh QB1, the stars seemed aligned for Lance to finally get some meaningful snaps. Instead, what Lance got was the equivalent of crumbs—and stale ones at that.
