Trey Lance will have a tough time finding a job in 2025, but the former 49ers quarterback might garner interest from one of these five teams.
There's a decent chance quarterback Trey Lance has played his last snap in an NFL regular-season game, potentially even seeing his name on an NFL roster.
Four years after the San Francisco 49ers made him the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 draft, Lance has accumulated just five regular-season starts, four with the Niners and another one after being traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 2023 and serving as their third-string signal-caller behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush.
Now a free agent, Lance will find it difficult to land a new gig. Teams rarely scramble to add a third- or fourth-stringer until after the draft, and this is usually just to fill out a depth chart on 90-man offseason rosters entering training camp. Plus, considering Lance's inexperience and previous flameouts, it's not likely a team would be willing to take on a reclamation project when there are plenty of other options available with higher floors.
That said, a handful of NFL teams might discuss the possibility of exploring Lance as an option, provided there's a glaring need.
We're probably reaching here, but these five squads (sort of) make sense.
No. 1: San Francisco 49ers
It's possibly the biggest reach of all, given the fact it gave him the boot two years ago already. But San Francisco has a void at QB3 right now even after inking Mac Jones to support Brock Purdy earlier this offseason.
In light of Purdy's pending extension talks, a hold-out that lasts deep into the offseason can't be ruled out from the equation.
On the upside, at least Lance is familiar with head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense, and bringing the quarterback aboard as a cheap camp option to possibly push the presumed incumbent for the third-string job, second-year pro Tanner Mordecai, into a friendly competition has some merit.
Of course, the only way this happens is if the 49ers don't acquire another quarterback during or immediately after the draft.
But, they've typically boasted four QBs on their camp rosters before, so it's plausible.
No. 2: Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are slightly more optimal than the Niners as a possible Lance landing spot despite being committed to quarterback Jordan Love while boasting Malik Willis as a solid No. 2.
Green Bay's offense under head coach Mike LaFleur isn't unlike that of Shanahan, which adds to the possibility, while pairing Lance with the Packers' fourth-year wide receiver, Christian Watson, makes some sense, too.
After all, Watson was a frequent go-to target for Lance back in 2019 when both were playing for North Dakota State.
No. 3: Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was the Niners' offensive coordinator when Lance broke into the NFL back in 2021. So, depending on how McDaniel felt about the quarterback over the course of that season could indicate whether or not the Dolphins would have any interest here.
McDaniel knows his starter under center, Tua Tagovailoa, has an unfortunate history of concussions, which prompted Miami to pick up another flameout from the 2021 draft, Zach Wilson, as a backup.
At least Wilson has far more NFL experience than Lance, but the QB3 role remains open.
No. 4: New York Giants
Future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers' pending decision on where he wants to play should create a notable domino effect around the league.
Among the teams potentially seeking Rodgers' services are the New York Giants, who just inked journeyman quarterback Jameis Winston as an insurance policy in case Rodgers rebuffs them in favor of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Armed with the No. 3 overall pick in the draft this April, the G-Men are likely going to grab a quarterback either way regardless of what Rodgers does, but that shouldn't wholly prevent them from considering Lance as a backup behind Winston and in an open competition with Tommy DeVito for a QB3 job.
If anything, it might be a last-ditch effort by head coach Brian Daboll to turn off the roasting feature on his coaching hot seat.
No. 5: Cleveland Browns
If there's one team out there all but guaranteed to make odd quarterbacking decisions, it's the Cleveland Browns.
Assuming Deshaun Watson isn't ready to go by Week 1 in light of his Achilles issues, the only quarterback rostered who'd be tabbed for the regular season is the embattled Kenny Pickett.
Or, in all likelihood, someone the Browns draft at No. 2 overall this April.
Lance only makes legitimate sense for Cleveland if Watson is slowly being shown the door (probably), Pickett can't cut it as a bridge to a rookie and someone deep within the Browns' coaching staff pounds the table loudly enough for Lance's services.
Again, though, the Browns have done stranger things under center, so we can't rule it out.
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