The Los Angeles Chargers made a splash on Friday by signing former Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance to a one-year deal. According to ESPN, the contract is worth up to $6.2 million , securing Lance’s spot as the third quarterback on the roster behind starter Justin Herbert and backup Taylor Heinicke .
This move comes after Lance’s brief stint with the Cowboys last season and amid reported interest from the Canadian Football League (CFL). Now, the 24-year-old signal-caller gets another chance to revive his NFL career in Los Angeles.
A Promising Start, But a Rocky NFL Journey So Far
Lance entered the league as the 3rd overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft after a great college career at North Dakota State, where he showed his dual threat ability and leadership. But his transition to the NFL hasn’t been smooth.
In two seasons with the 49ers, he started 4 games before suffering a major ankle injury that kept him out for most of the 2022 season. That injury opened the door for Brock Purdy to step in and Purdy has held onto the job ever since.
A Short Stay in Dallas
The Cowboys acquired Lance before the 2024 season, hoping to tap into his potential. Unfortunately, Lance saw limited action and started 1 game against the Washington Commanders. In that game he completed 61% of his passes for 244 yards but didn’t throw a touchdown or an interception. He showed flashes of his talent but not enough to get a long term role in Dallas.
Could the Chargers Be the Perfect Fit?
Lance still has that top-draft-pick stuff in him: the strong arm, the mobility, and a whole lot of untapped potential. What he really needs now is a fresh start and the Chargers could be just the place to give him that. Playing behind Justin Herbert arguably the league’s brightest young star Lance will get the breathing room to learn, develop, and really hone his game.
Without the pressure of being a starter right away, he can focus on getting healthy and regaining that confidence. If he can do that, there’s no limit to where he could go.
CFL Interest Adds Intrigue to His Journey
Trey Lance’s path to the Chargers was almost a Canadian one. He was on the negotiating list for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL, where his dad actually played in 2023. That connection meant a lot to Lance. But in the end, he decided the Chargers’ offer was too good to pass up. And so he’ll be focusing on proving himself in LA rather than making the move north.
That decision could be the start of a career resurgence for Lance. With Justin Herbert and the Chargers’ coaching staff to guide him, he might finally get the stability and support he needs to really thrive.
For Chargers fans, Lance brings a valuable asset to the quarterback position: depth and upside. And in today’s NFL, that’s a precious commodity. As Lance starts out as a backup, that unpredictability is exactly what the team needs.