I’m comfortable with the Trey Lance trade. I know there are some who question the move, but, for me, I don’t really have a problem with it. I understand that he didn’t beat out Sam Darnold. However, he is coming off a pretty bad injury. So, given that, let me give you the reasons why I’m comfortable with the trade:
- We gave up a 4th round pick for a player that was taken as a top 5 draft pick and was someone the Cowboys had a 2nd round grade on (https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/nf…umors-trey-lance-draft-grade-cowboys/1650894/). So, clearly, the Cowboys FO liked him in his draft lead up, but couldn’t get him because the 49ers traded multiple first round picks for him
- Sometimes a QB doesn’t fit a scheme or needs a change of scenery to succeed. Consider QBs such as Brett Favre or Steve Young. It’s possible that Trey Lance wasn’t a good fit for Shanahan’s system and might be a better fit for Mike McCarthy. Not saying he will have Favre results. However, this is a low risk opportunity for us to see if the change of scenery might be what he needs.
- He now has an opportunity to get healthy and develop. This is the biggest thing for us. Trey Lance, coming out of a small school, needed a little time to develop to the NFL (not unlike Tolbert, who has done very well this preseason process). He also got injured a lot in SFO. I think we have a better training staff than SFO. So, he should find himself in a healthier situation. Plus, he can now sit back, learn from Dak and Mike McCarthy, and develop his skills in practice against a very good defence. If Lance uses this opportunity properly, this will benefit both him and the Cowboys.
- Mike McCarthy is good at developing QBs. Consider Mike Flynn and Cooper Rush. When Mike Flynn wasn’t on the Packers, he was useless. When he was in McCarthy’s system in Green Bay, he was an solid option when Aaron Rodgers got injured. Cooper Rush was atrocious under Jason Garrett. However, ever since McCarthy got his hands on Rush, he’s become a very good backup QB option who is 5-1 as a starter (1-0 in 2021 and 4-1 in 2022). I think Trey Lance is in a very good place to develop.
- It’s a low risk high reward move. I normally don’t like giving up picks. However, a 4th round pick is low risk for the possibility of developing a very good QB.
All in all, it’s not as bad of a move as you may think. If anything, it’s a move that, if Trey Lance seizes this opportunity and uses it properly, can be very good for the Cowboys. I think we need to be patient. There is talent in Lance. It just needs to be developed, and I think McCarthy is just the coach to develop him. If not, well, it was only a 4th round pick.
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