Unofficial results are in: Dallas Cowboys’ trade for Trey Lance is a far-reaching disaster

the Dallas Cowboys trade for Trey Lance is increasingly being viewed as a significant misstep adding to the list of questionable deals made by owner and general manager Jerry Jones over the years this transaction which saw the Cowboys send a 2024 fourth round draft pick to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for Lance was intended to be a strategic move to bolster the team's quarterback depth however as the one-year anniversary of the trade approaches it's becoming clear that this acquisition May rank among the worst in franchise history on Saturday August 24th 2024 Lance played the entirety of the Cowboys preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers a game that ended in a 26 to9 loss playing a full preseason game especially the final one is typically not a positive sign for a quarterback it often indicates that the player is fighting for a spot on the roster rather than being a lock for the team for Lance this might have been his last opportunity to prove his Worth to the Cowboys and unfortunately his performance did little to instill confidence since acquiring the former third overall pick the Cowboys have faced increasing criticism as Lance's impact on the team has been negligible unlike previous high-profile trades for players like Joey Galloway and Roy Williams who at least contributed during regular season games Lance has yet to play a meaningful down in the regular season for Dallas his role has been largely limited to preseason appearances where his inconsistent play has raised more concerns than optimism the financial implications of this trade also cannot be ignored the Cowboys are set to pay Lance $6.24 million a hefty sum for a player who has mostly stood on the sidelines participated in practice sessions and sat through team meetings despite his limited contribution Lance's salary is guaranteed making him one of the most expensive third string quarterbacks in the NFL reflecting on the trade it's evident that the 49ers managed to offload a player they no longer had plans for while the Cowboys ended up with a quarterback who has yet to find his footing in the NFL when the deal was made there was hope that Lance could rejuvenate his career in Dallas but the real has been far less encouraging in the 2024 preseason Lance completed 73 of 113 passes for 672 yards with two touchdowns and five interceptions a statline that has done little to suggest he is ready to step in as a reliable backup let alone challenge Dak Prescott for the starting job the game against the Chargers encapsulated Lance's struggles although he made a few impressive throws including a sideline pass in tight coverage and a well-placed touchdown pass to receiver Ryan floro his overall performance was marred by mistakes Lance threw two costly interceptions one of which was a pick six and was sacked three times his final statline for the game 33 completions on 49 attempts for 333 yards with one touchdown and five interceptions underscored his inconsistency