Trey Lance received some notable praise from Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy during the team’s OTAs on Thursday.
The fourth-year quarterback is competing with Cooper Rush for the backup role after not seeing any action last season. And if the previous first-round pick (3rd overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2021 NFL Draft) is impressive enough, maybe – just maybe – he gives the Cowboys an option as they continue to negotiate with starter Dak Prescott for a new contract.
McCarthy gave no indication of what would be a major and controversial decision. But he praised Lance’s performance during the offseason and his improvement after a season learning Dallas’ offense.
“He was on a learning curve, but now he’s starting to understand the timing,” McCarthy told reporters on Thursday. “He’s close to being a master of the system. He has a very high understanding… He just needs as many reps as he can get.”
To say that Lance is “close to being a master of the system” is high praise from the head coach, implying that he would be confident if Lance had to replace Prescott at some point next season.
Still, the Cowboys also know what they have with Rush. The sixth-year pro has thrown for just 144 yards in seven games. However, he played very well in 2022, filling in for the injured Prescott. In five games, Rush threw for 1,051 yards and five touchdowns (against three interceptions), leading Dallas to a 4-1 record.
All three Cowboys quarterbacks are eligible to be free agents after the 2024-25 season. Keeping Rush, who turns 31 in November, as Prescott’s backup appears to be the conventional path. But team owner Jerry Jones may still be in love with Lance’s talent and the fact that he’s just 24 years old.
However, Lance may also prefer to explore options where he can compete for an entry-level job. He won the 49ers’ starting job in 2022 before his season ended with a broken ankle. Other general managers will likely be as intrigued by Lance’s potential as Jones and the 49ers’ brains were.
However, the Cowboys’ quarterback situation comes down to whether or not Prescott signs a new contract. (Your current agreement prevents the team from placing a franchise tag on him.) Dallas would receive a dead cap hit of $40.5 million in 2025-26 if he left as a free agent. Crafting a new deal would allow the team to spread that money around, helping to re-sign other stars like receiver CeeDee Lamb and edge rusher Micah Parsons.
