Lance: 5th Year Option Declined

[thunderpimp91]

Well the team obviously must not think that is likely to happen since they were unwilling to do his 5th year option at approximately $22 million. People saying they could tag him must not realize the tag this year is $38 mil. That won’t happen.

What seems probable at this point is the Cowboys don’t see a ton of “starter potential“ for this guy. In a league literally starving for even decent QB play, it seems pretty clear Lance has not shown the Cowboys (or obviously the niners) that he is worth committing substantial cap space.

Maybe that could change if Lance lights it up in ps games (against mostly backups and guys who will never play in the NFL) but if the team really felt great about this guy they would be quick to ensure he sticks around.

And…maybe they just want to see what happens with Dak this year. If Dak has a flame out year, maybe the Cowboys will be willing to look harder at Lance. Going to be interesting.

I think that last sentence is the key. If they keep Dak around then it would have been silly for them to pick up the $22M option, which is exactly why you can't pull the trigger on that even if they wanted to at this point. If Dak walks this offseason they still have the franchise tag in their back pocket, but of course that is pretty irrelevant unless Lance sees significant time on the field this year.

I agree it's unlikely but I would have argued that Daniel Jones getting $40M per year or Baker Mayfield getting a $100M from Tampa was unlikely until it happened. I've learned to not underestimate how much things can change in just one season in the NFL.

 

[Bobhaze]

I think that last sentence is the key. If they keep Dak around then it would have been silly for them to pick up the $22M option, which is exactly why you can't pull the trigger on that even if they wanted to at this point. If Dak walks this offseason they still have the franchise tag in their back pocket, but of course that is pretty irrelevant unless Lance sees significant time on the field this year.

I agree it's unlikely but I would have argued that Daniel Jones getting $40M per year or Baker Mayfield getting a $100M from Tampa was unlikely until it happened. I've learned to not underestimate how much things can change in just one season in the NFL.

The absolute most misunderstood position when it comes to cap space is QB. Way too many fans think if a QB gets “big money” he must be able to completely carry a team. Last I checked there are maybe two QBs in the league right now who can do that: Pat Mahomes and Joe Burrow. That’s it.

But QBs are paid based on economics 101 - supply and demand. There is a very short supply of even decent QBs. Therefore, the demand is high but the supply is low. So QBs get paid ungodly amounts whether or not they have the same ability as guys like Mahomes or Burrow.

Is Baker Mayfield worth his deal? No. Is Cousins? No. But that’s what the market dictates. Where the Jones boys don’t get it is if you want a good but not great QB like Dak, you better have a great defense or great running game. They have neither. Until that happens, unless the Cowboys get Mahomes or Burrow, they aren’t going far in the playoffs. And that’s on the FO more than Dak IMO.

 

[Creeper]

None of this surprises me. But what does surprise me is the Cowboys never even gave Lance a chance to pick up some garbage time playing time. They gave up a 4th round pick for him, I am guessing hoping he can play or at least become decent trade bait. But they are hiding him away and not even giving him a chance to showcase his skills. If he winds up leaving Dallas and they get no compensation for him it will be just one more stupid trade by Jerry that hurt the team. Looking at how the draft turned out, that 4th round was the sweet spot for taking a desperately needed RB.

 

[Portnoy1]

Keep telling yourself that.

Then he lost it to Mr. Irrelevant and Sam Darnold.

Losing his Job to Purdy shouldn’t bother him considering how good Purdy is. But losing his job to Sam Darnold should have him looking in the mirror.

 

[Bullflop]

Don't be too shocked if Trey Lance's acquisition was just what Jerry & Stephen cooked up to pressure Dak into signing for less money!

 

[KingCorcoran]

So which team pays him north of $29m?

Sign him for at least four years, starting with the 2024 season, New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins.

 

[Reid1boys]

Sure makes the trade seem stupid.

next year when we know the results of the trade, I think you could say it was or wasnt stupid. But in Spring of 2024, its a little premature to say.

 

[Reid1boys]

Yes.

But Dallas could tag him.

hmm.... IM not sure they can. Im thinking when a team declines the 5th year, thats it. Player becomes a free agent. I could be wrong, but it defeats the purpose of the 5th year option if a team can turn around and tag a player.

 

[Reid1boys]

Most of the idiots here thought it already happened. I won't mention any names.

It hadnt happened with league office, but it happened weeks ago.

 

[Jimbo123]

Not picking up his option means to me that Dak is going to be extended and even if Lance shows up very well in training camp just tells me they will try to extend him for a year at something like $10 million for one year and then trade him to say the Raiders.

For everyone who wants to jettison the QBs, no option on Lance means we currently have zero QBs on the roster after the 2024 season is done. That is just not going to happen.

First off, 3rd string QBs don't make $10M a year.
Second off, The Raiders just signed Garnder Minshew..

 

[Chasing6]

Losing his Job to Purdy shouldn’t bother him considering how good Purdy is. But losing his job to Sam Darnold should have him looking in the mirror.

Considering he never won the starting job to begin with. It was given to him by default due to his draft position

Now we will see if GM Jethro makes the same mistake with QB2.

Because we all now this will not be a McCarthy decision.

 

[Chasing6]

Not to me.
QBs cost a lot. We're getting a year long look at a 3rd pick of a draft for a 4th.
Given their ultimate cost, we should be spending more picks on QBs.
And given the timing of the trade, we were never going to pick up the option on Lance anyway. Making it official changes nothing.
If Lance can look decent in the preseason, we could easily pick up a 4th round comp pick on his way out.

Trances value is nada.

 

[BleedSilverandBlue]

Maybe they'll come to some low end deal next year. He overpaid on the trade, maybe Jerry is willing to over pay by a little to retain him. But it will be nowhere near 20M.

Maybe the plan is to keep him on the bench all year if we can help it so that Lance has nearly no leverage at the negotiating table when signing a new deal.

If he never has played and is still a largely unknown commodity, Dallas may be able to retain him for much cheaper than if he had shown some stuff in a few regular season games.

 

[Chasing6]

Maybe they'll come to some low end deal next year. He overpaid on the trade, maybe Jerry is willing to over pay by a little to retain him. But it will be nowhere near 20M.

To retain what? A nice guy holding a clip board.

Or to retain GM Jethro's ego for making a stupid trade without consulting anyone?

 

[dupree89]

The absolute most misunderstood position when it comes to cap space is QB. Way too many fans think if a QB gets “big money” he must be able to completely carry a team. Last I checked there are maybe two QBs in the league right now who can do that: Pat Mahomes and Joe Burrow. That’s it.

But QBs are paid based on economics 101 - supply and demand. There is a very short supply of even decent QBs. Therefore, the demand is high but the supply is low. So QBs get paid ungodly amounts whether or not they have the same ability as guys like Mahomes or Burrow.

Is Baker Mayfield worth his deal? No. Is Cousins? No. But that’s what the market dictates. Where the Jones boys don’t get it is if you want a good but not great QB like Dak, you better have a great defense or great running game. They have neither. Until that happens, unless the Cowboys get Mahomes or Burrow, they aren’t going far in the playoffs. And that’s on the FO more than Dak IMO.

good write up. good post. I get what you're saying. But here's my take: I'm not paying a guy 55 million a year or whatever it is, when it comes with the caveat...now he can't win without a great defense and good running game. Screw that. I'll bring in 2 veterans that are looking to hang on in the league and will sign for 7 or 8 mill a year. And have one young guy to develop. I'll have about 20 mill tied up in QBs and I will take my chances with the great defense and good running game that Dak needs as well at 55 mill. No thanks.

 

[Whyjerry]

Sure makes the trade seem stupid.

Fields went for a 6. Let that sink in.

Not surprising but a telling move.

 

[SportsGuru80]

Basically wasted a 4th round pick.

 

[Chasing6]

The absolute most misunderstood position when it comes to cap space is QB. Way too many fans think if a QB gets “big money” he must be able to completely carry a team. Last I checked there are maybe two QBs in the league right now who can do that: Pat Mahomes and Joe Burrow. That’s it.

But QBs are paid based on economics 101 - supply and demand. There is a very short supply of even decent QBs. Therefore, the demand is high but the supply is low. So QBs get paid ungodly amounts whether or not they have the same ability as guys like Mahomes or Burrow.

Is Baker Mayfield worth his deal? No. Is Cousins? No. But that’s what the market dictates. Where the Jones boys don’t get it is if you want a good but not great QB like Dak, you better have a great defense or great running game. They have neither. Until that happens, unless the Cowboys get Mahomes or Burrow, they aren’t going far in the playoffs. And that’s on the FO more than Dak IMO.

Even with Mahome's their defense gave up less than 17 points a game. So he did not win it by himself. No QB has ever won it by himself period.

Just because the average fan can not comprehend the game, does not mean the QB won the game by himself.

 

[Flamma]

Maybe the plan is to keep him on the bench all year if we can help it so that Lance has nearly no leverage at the negotiating table when signing a new deal.

If he never has played and is still a largely unknown commodity, Dallas may be able to retain him for much cheaper than if he had shown some stuff in a few regular season games.

What happens here is he's a free agent. Tagging him is not an option. The Cowboys will probably offer him something to retain him. In the area of 5-10 Mil.

 

[Chasing6]

What happens here is he's a free agent. Tagging him is not an option. The Cowboys will probably offer him something to retain him. In the area of 5-10 Mil.

Please explain why they do that?