The Los Angeles Chargers have added some depth to their quarterback room by signing former Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance to a one-year deal. The deal is worth up to $6.2 million and has Lance as the third-string quarterback behind Justin Herbert and Taylor Heinicke.
A New Beginning for Trey Lance
For Trey Lance, this is another chapter in what has been a tough NFL journey so far. He was drafted by the 49ers with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 draft after a great college career at North Dakota State. He was supposed to be a franchise quarterback. But injuries and inconsistency derailed his progress in San Francisco. An ankle injury early in his career opened the door for Brock Purdy to take the starting job – a job Purdy hasn’t given up since.
Lance then joined the Cowboys before the 2024 season but saw limited action, making just one start against the Washington Commanders. In that game, he completed 61% of his passes for 244 yards, no touchdowns or interceptions. Not a great performance, but showed some flashes of potential that can still be developed with the right situation.
From CFL to NFL Comeback
Before landing with the Chargers, Lance’s football future was up in the air. After his contract with the Cowboys expired last month, there was talk of him heading north to the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Saskatchewan Roughriders even put Lance on their negotiating list, giving them exclusive rights to him—likely because his dad played for the team in 2023.
Luckily for Lance, the CFL route won’t be necessary just yet. Instead, he’ll stay in the NFL where the Chargers hope to rekindle his career. Though he’s currently a backup, being around a good quarterback like Justin Herbert and a supportive staff might be what Lance needs to get back on track.
Can the Chargers Unlock Lance’s Potential?
Lance is only 24. He has a lot of upside. Over three seasons in the league he’s thrown 1,063 yards, 5 touchdowns and 4 interceptions in limited action. His athleticism and arm talent were why he was such a highly touted prospect coming out of college. If the Chargers can tap into that and fix his consistency issues they might have a good asset down the line.
Lance isn’t expected to play much unless injured but he gives the Chargers insurance behind Herbert. More importantly he gives Lance another chance to prove himself in the NFL—a league where second chances are hard to come by.