Likely to garner little interest in the NFL, Trey Lance apparently is getting courted from a Canadian-based football squad.
When the Dallas Cowboys opted not to bring back quarterback Trey Lance at the start of the league new year, the former No. 3 overall pick declared he wanted to simply go somewhere where he could be given the chance to compete for a starting job.
He might ultimately get that wish, albeit not in the kind of manner he originally hoped.
NFL teams aren't exactly lining up for Lance's services after he flamed out with both the San Francisco 49ers and Cowboys, starting just five games after being a promising-but-raw selection back in 2021 out of North Dakota State. Considering he spent the last two years as Dallas' QB3 after being jettisoned by the Niners after a mere two seasons, it's not shocking to see Lance's list of suitors at a minimum.
At least within the NFL. Not exactly the league north of the border.
CFL's Roughriders courting Trey Lance
Sports Illustrated's Grant Cohn painted a grim picture of Lance's future in the NFL, highlighting how the quarterback's stock value is at an all-time low heading into 2025 after not being able to beat out Cooper Rush in Dallas as Dak Prescott's backup. NFL teams aren't going to proverbially trip over themselves for a third-stringer anyway.
Cohn did suggest, however, Lance could take a roundabout trip to resurrect his career, one that'd involve a playing career in Canada with the CFL.
Apparently, the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders took notice, according to TSN's Dave Naylor:
The @sskroughriders added QB Trey Lance - the #3 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft — to their negotiation list on Monday of this week. Lance’s father, Carlton, is a former @sskroughriders cornerback. https://t.co/Dzv7K3PjYk
— Dave Naylor (@TSNDaveNaylor) March 26, 2025
Related story: 5 teams that (may) kick the tires on former 49ers QB Trey Lance
It might not be the worst of ideas for Lance. If anything, the signal-caller will turn just 25 years old this offseason and still desperately needs practical experience on the field in real-game situations. He probably won't get that in the NFL anytime soon, but signing on with a CFL team would likely lead to that opportunity.
San Francisco fans aren't wholly unfamiliar with that kind of journey either. Not too far back in 49ers lore, quarterback Jeff Garcia had a CFL detour that translated into him becoming a successful Niners quarterback who'd carve out a solid career after some north-of-the-border development.
Perhaps Lance opts to follow that trajectory.