49ers drafting Trey Lance somehow continues to age even worse than it already was

Remember when the San Francisco 49ers traded up to the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft to select Trey Lance? Do you also remember how Lance started just four games in two years before the Niners traded him to the Dallas Cowboys?

Well, you probably don't remember Lance starting a game for the Cowboys because it hasn't happened yet and, according to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, won't be happening any time soon. Jones made his weekly appearance on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas and was asked if the former Niners quarterback might be getting a chance to start now that the Cowboys' playoff chances are even slimmer.

Jones responded, "I don't think so. I thought we did some good things out there. I still believe [Cooper Rush] gives us our best chance." He also said, "Wins are important for us. This is a young team."

The Cowboys are 5-8 after losing to the Bengals in Week 14 and their playoff hopes are basically non-existent. They're not going anywhere this year and it could make sense for them to start Lance and see what they have with the former first-rounder but they're opting not to do that. This further cements that the 49ers made a mistake trading up to draft him but made the correct choice to trade him when they did.

Former 49ers QB Trey Lance still not getting a chance with new team

The Niners jumped up to draft Lance in 2021 after Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson went first and second and the pick has clearly not aged well. Fortunately, the 49ers haven't been hurt badly by Lance being a bust. As mentioned above, he started just four games with the team that drafted him and the injuries led to Brock Purdy, the 2022 draft's Mr. Irrelevant, getting a chance to show what he could do.

Purdy, of course, wowed as a rookie, helping lead the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game and then to the Super Bowl during his second year and first full year as a starter. Lance was traded in between those seasons because it was hard to justify keeping him and benching Purdy after what the rookie did.

The 49ers got a fourth-round pick in return for Lance and that pick turned into Malik Mustapha, who has started nine games as a rookie (so, five more than Lance had in two years). At this point, it doesn't look as though Lance will turn into a full-time starting quarterback so the 49ers dodged a bullet by trading him when they knew it wasn't panning out.

Most teams who made the mistake of trading up to number three overall to draft a quarterback who then is a bust wouldn't be in the Super Bowl three years later but the Niners truly lucked out when Purdy stepped into the limelight and balled out. Of course, now the 49ers will have to pay Purdy but at least he's shown his value to this team. Trey Lance can't say the same thing.