Trey Lance Was Brought In To Try And Take Dak’s Job

[JD_KaPow]

I have seen stranger things. I wonder why someone would use a top 3 first round draft pick on a physically gifted player and use him for 8 games and trade him for our 4th round pick. I know he was injured in his second year but how is 8 games enough to know if he is going to be good. His stats were not terrible for a young draft pick. 6 games in 2021 5 TDs and 2 int. Not burning it up but he is a rookie.

The 49ers understand the concept of sunk costs. Once you've made the initial investment, you can't get it back, so you don't let it influence your future decisions.

He had one good game as a starter against a tanking Houston team. He was bad in his other two starts (not counting the one where he threw 3 passes before getting hurt), not completing over 50% of his passes in either. But that's not enough data to tell us anything one way or another. Asking "is 8 games enough to know if he is going to be good" is begging the question. They only gave him 8 games (really only 4) because they believed, based on what they saw from him every day, that he wasn't good enough to play more.

The possibilities are:
(1) The 49ers assessed that the potential wasn't there, and they were correct in that assessment.
(2) The 49ers assessed that the potential wasn't there, and they were wrong in their assessment.
(3) The 49ers saw potential but didn't think he'd fit their system.
(4) The 49ers saw potential but were willing to sacrifice it because they're in win-now mode and he doesn't fit their short-term plans.

Of these, (1) seems by far the most likely to me. I could sort of see (3) and (4) but I struggle with the decision to keep Darnold over him in those cases.

 

[BigD_95]

It’s as obvious as can be. This was a message to the unknowing Dak. There is no comfort for you anymore. We wouldn’t resign your BFF and now this. It’s put up or shut season.

This is an out of character move from Jerry. He does not trade draft picks for guys he has no interest in playing. It’s just not the way Jerry has ever done business.

It won’t happen fast and maybe not this year at all, but the purpose of this trade is to put pressure on Dak.

Daks contract is coming up and Jerry trades for a young, raw, 1st rounder QB and that’s supposed to be a coincidence and depth move?

Jerry could’ve signed a veteran like Wentz, Flacco, or waited until cuts, or kept Grier if he was looking for a depth move.

He didn’t even give a heads up to Dak that he was doing this knowing a splash like this will make big news and allowed Dak to be blindsided instead.

The writing is on the wall and it couldn’t be anymore clear.

Good - Dak should be on notice

 

[Shane612]

I think Jerry is trying to avoid extending Dak. Jerry knows Dak isn't worth the money Dak is expecting. No way no how.
He is hoping that Lance will show something next off-season and challenge...or maybe even later this year....
It may be a long shot, but what does Jerry have to lose at this point?

 

[fivetwos]

Well they got owned on Dak's last contract so they need some leverage but I don't think this move helps them.

Probably not, but at least this is a move in a different direction on something that I’ve been very critical of Jerry on, and I believe to have been a big problem in Dallas over the last quarter century….coddling players, no competition, etc.

Maybe watching some of his BFFs leave lately has made him realize certain things.

But no, I don’t at all expect Prescott to continue to fail, they let him walk, and Lance takes over and starts winning big. It’s possible, and very worth the risk, but it’s not something anyone ought to see as likely.

I’m hoping for some RPO packages that add another dimension to the offense.

 

[DandyDon52]

He don’t need to run anything past the players before he hires someone. I do think it was a little shot at MM. He ahoukd have been in the loop. But I am sure he approves the move. 1st round 3rd overall pick for a 4th round pick. For a really young QB that’s played 8 games in 2 years. Not sure if the kid is injury prone or a fluke but worth looking at.

1st round 3rd overall pick.......people keep saying this, like they have never seen all the rd 1 busts ! I dont get that.
Parcells would never have drafted lance, nor would he be interested in him after 3 years of being a bust in SF.

You get what you pay for most of the time.

 

[Shane612]

The Eagles suck.

Did you post this just get some "likes"?

 

[RonnieT24]

No doubt. If JJ felt the same way about Dak as some of the members here then he would have traded the farm for a better QB. Give him weapons and he will be ok. Gallup will be better

yeah I wish we got him a few weeks ago so we could see him in preseason games. We shall see.

I've seen him in preseason action and he has been terrible. His numbers have been just okay and he has had his share of extremely lucky bounces which have saved him from a couple of pick-sixes. One even bounced off a defender and the receiver caught it for a TD. He's been bad overall. Dude simply is not ready to play at the NFL level. Doesn't mean he can't get there. He absolutely could. It took Romo three years to become remotely close to NFL ready. And that was without any injury setbacks. This kid is entering year three and has not been able to even stay on the practice field because every time he's gotten to start he's ended up hurt. He's got work to do to even pass Cooper Rush.

 

[DallasEast]

It would interesting to revisit this, and literally a couple dozen threads like it since Lance was traded, in 2025 or 2026.

 

[Chuck 54]

Goofy post. So if we’d drafted a QB with a 4th round pick as was the plan, would we be saying that player was drafted to compete with Dak? Dak, who had 4 years of college football compared to just one season for Lance, came in with much more experience, but no one said he was drafted to compete with Romo.

The two have nothing to do with each other. If Dak returns to playing well and protecting the football this season, he will be resigned and Lance will be given an opportunity to be groomed as a future starter. If Dak plays poorly and turns the ball over uncharacteristically like last season, he will not be extended.

Either way, Trey Lance is not ready to start at QB. The goal is for him to develop and serve as a backup to Dak or another veteran. This team is way too good to put into the hands of Trey Lance. Ideally, Lance may be ready to start somewhere at age 25-26 due to lack of college experience.

Only a Dak hater would even try to see a connection here.

 

[Cowboysheelsreds058]

Jerry don’t trade draft picks for back up QBs.

He could’ve signed a proven vet to do that or keep Grier.

This is a wake up call to Dak. That’s why he was blindsided by it. He thought he was safe. He thought he was untouchable. He become comfortable in the mediocrity.

Lol, Lex on fire and look at the likes.

 

[Big_D]

It would interesting to revisit this, and literally a couple dozen threads like it since Lance was traded, in 2025 or 2026.

That's the likely scenario 2 or 3 years away. I'd say he could be the backup next season then we'll see what happens after that.

 

[DallasInDC]

It’s as obvious as can be. This was a message to the unknowing Dak. There is no comfort for you anymore. We wouldn’t resign your BFF and now this. It’s put up or shut season.

This is an out of character move from Jerry. He does not trade draft picks for guys he has no interest in playing. It’s just not the way Jerry has ever done business.

It won’t happen fast and maybe not this year at all, but the purpose of this trade is to put pressure on Dak.

Daks contract is coming up and Jerry trades for a young, raw, 1st rounder QB and that’s supposed to be a coincidence and depth move?

Jerry could’ve signed a veteran like Wentz, Flacco, or waited until cuts, or kept Grier if he was looking for a depth move.

He didn’t even give a heads up to Dak that he was doing this knowing a splash like this will make big news and allowed Dak to be blindsided instead.

The writing is on the wall and it couldn’t be anymore clear.

Bringing someone intotry to take his job is a lot easier than actually taking the job. Dak has skins on the wall..Trey not so much.

 

[DallasEast]

That's the likely scenario 2 or 3 years away. I'd say he could be the backup next season then we'll see what happens after that.

Let everyone hope he does not regress in training camp during those years here like he did this year in San Francisco's in order to get a better evaluation.

 

[glimmerman]

The 49ers understand the concept of sunk costs. Once you've made the initial investment, you can't get it back, so you don't let it influence your future decisions.

He had one good game as a starter against a tanking Houston team. He was bad in his other two starts (not counting the one where he threw 3 passes before getting hurt), not completing over 50% of his passes in either. But that's not enough data to tell us anything one way or another. Asking "is 8 games enough to know if he is going to be good" is begging the question. They only gave him 8 games (really only 4) because they believed, based on what they saw from him every day, that he wasn't good enough to play more.

The possibilities are:
(1) The 49ers assessed that the potential wasn't there, and they were correct in that assessment.
(2) The 49ers assessed that the potential wasn't there, and they were wrong in their assessment.
(3) The 49ers saw potential but didn't think he'd fit their system.
(4) The 49ers saw potential but were willing to sacrifice it because they're in win-now mode and he doesn't fit their short-term plans.

Of these, (1) seems by far the most likely to me. I could sort of see (3) and (4) but I struggle with the decision to keep Darnold over him in those cases.

Great post. But like you said really only 4 games and no he didn’t come out blazing but things I read said they were really high on him and being able to play so many styles. Whole thing is strange but hey let’s kick the tires.

 

[offlimits]

Yes, it was done partly to pressure Dak and cause competition.

And that's a good thing. Even for Dak.

THIS ^

 

[glimmerman]

1st round 3rd overall pick.......people keep saying this, like they have never seen all the rd 1 busts ! I dont get that.
Parcells would never have drafted lance, nor would he be interested in him after 3 years of being a bust in SF.

You get what you pay for most of the time.

I know all about the first round busts and high round starters. Undrafted starters. Reading a little and niners were really high on him and sees his “skills”. Lol. Don’t seem like it after 2 years and taking a 4th for him and starting a 7th round pick.

 

[Big_D]

Let everyone hope he does not regress in training camp during those years here like he did this year in San Francisco's in order to get a better evaluation.

I'm hoping the change of scenery works in this situation! The pressure is off at this point as a top 3 pick.

 

[DallasEast]

I'm hoping the change of scenery works in this situation! The pressure is off at this point as a top 3 pick.

It is a good thing he does not know or care about CowboysZone. The handful of voices here would put the pressure back on him.

 

[DandyDon1722]

Jerry don’t trade draft picks for back up QBs.

He could’ve signed a proven vet to do that or keep Grier.

This is a wake up call to Dak. That’s why he was blindsided by it. He thought he was safe. He thought he was untouchable. He become comfortable in the mediocrity.

I just saw on First Things First the sound bite Jerry had where he said they really wanted Jalen Hurts. That was shocking and I had never heard it before.

I just don’t get the impression they are sold on Dak so how in the world can they EVER give him an extension.

 

[DallasEast]

I just saw on First Things First the sound bite Jerry had where he said they really wanted Jalen Hurts. That was shocking and I had never heard it before.

I just don’t get the impression they are sold on Dak so how in the world can they EVER give him an extension.

Answer:

It's
What
Jerry
Jones
Does