The Minnesota Vikings must adjust their offense to suit J.J. McCarthy , and that could mean finding a backup who fits McCarthy's style better.
A player who was once picked third overall Trey Lance could be a good fit.
The future of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Lance is uncertain after it was announced that Dallas would not extend his contract and would keep him for the final year of his rookie deal.
The native of Marshall, Minnesota, who was acquired by the San Francisco 49ers in 2021 for three first-round picks, has not shown enough to justify his $22.4 million option. The Cowboys seem ready to move on from Lance and could trade him before October's trade deadline.
Lance is a mobile quarterback with similar traits to McCarthy and has untapped potential that intrigued 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan , whose offense is similar to Kevin O'Connell's scheme in Minnesota.
Although Lance did not meet expectations in San Francisco due to injuries and losing his starting position, he has continued to develop in some of the league's most quarterback-friendly systems. Brock PurdySince the Cowboys acquired Lance for the cost of a fourth-round pick, a fifth-round pick would be enough for a trade.
Lance is only 23 years old, younger than 12th overall pick, and could be a backup for McCarthy, offering significant potential due to his mobility and accuracy shown in college.
None of the Vikings' current quarterbacks are true dual-threats like McCarthy, so it might be necessary to find a backup who suits McCarthy's style better. Bo Nix Vikings Linked to Trey Lance at the NFL Combine Before Drafting McCarthy
Trey Lance received the biggest trade return among quarterbacks in the 2021 draft.
While the Vikings explored all options for quarterback, including trading
GettyKirk Cousins
, Lance's name came up in discussions at the combine in March. Rich Eisen shared on March 5 that there were rumors at the combine about the possibility of Lance joining the Vikings. During his show,
Eisen speculated about a potential trade during the draft, which did not happen as Minnesota chose McCarthy instead. However, there have been numerous reports over the years about the Vikings considering bringing in Lance.
Trey Lance’s Bad String of Luck, Timing in the NFL Niners quarterback Trey Lance..
Lance's decline in the NFL is due to several circumstances beyond his control.
In 2021, the 49ers selected Lance as a raw talent and gave him a year to develop behind starter
GettyJimmy Garoppolo
. Lance became the starter in 2022 but suffered a season-ending leg injury in Week 2, which led to Purdy taking over. Deep playoff runs from Purdy ultimately resulted in Lance leaving for Dallas.
He has only started four games in his career and has a record of 2-2. He has thrown for 797 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. He has also run the ball 54 times for 235 yards and a touchdown. This information comes from Pro Football Reference. Overall, the plan to develop Lance was disrupted, and he hasn't played enough football. Lance has only attempted 591 passes in his entire career since high school, which is less than some NFL quarterbacks attempt in a single season, and much less than the 2024 quarterback draft class.For instance, Nix played all five years of his college eligibility, attempting 1,936 passes during that time. Nix had almost five times more exposure to Divison I-level talent.
Lance is lagging behind and may never catch up to his peers, but if he shows the potential that once made him a prized prospect in the draft, he could be a valuable asset in the future. The Vikings getting J.J. McCarthy as their future franchise QB could prompt a trade for a mobile backup like Minnesota native Trey Lance..
Overall, the plan to develop Lance was derailed, and he just hasn’t played enough football. Lance has just 591 pass attempts in his entire career since high school — that’s fewer than some NFL quarterbacks attempt in a single season, and pales in comparison to the 2024 quarterback draft class.
For example, Nix, played out all five years of his eligibility in college, attempting 1,936 passes in that span. Nix had nearly five times as much exposure to Divison I-level talent.
Lance is behind and may never catch up to his contemporaries, but if he flashes that potential that once made him a prized prospect in the draft, he could be a valuable asset moving forward.
