When San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan informed Trey Lance that he had been traded to the Dallas Cowboys, the quarterback was far from disappointed.
"Kyle and I, when we broke the news to him [last Friday], saw him light up a little bit," Lynch said. "And he loves it here. He was very appreciative of the opportunity. Typical Trey, he apologized to us, and there was nothing for him to apologize for.
"We're happy that he's got a spot, and the Cowboys came up big, and I think that's an indication that they're excited to have him. And we're excited for Trey's new opportunity, and we'll always be big fans."
Lance sought an opportunity to compete, to go somewhere he might have a better chance to develop. Unfortunately, it seemed that wasn't going to happen with the Niners. The third-year player lost the QB2 battle to Sam Darnold.
Speaking to Cowboys reporters for the first time since the trade, Lance revealed what was going through his mind when he received the news from the 49ers.
"When I heard 'Cowboys,' I had a big smile on my face," Lance said, per The Athletic's Jon Machota.
New Cowboys QB Trey Lance: "When I heard Cowboys, I had a big smile on my face."
He said he's 100 percent healthy.
On Dak Prescott: "He welcomed me with open arms. That meant a lot to me. Just tons and tons of respect for him." pic.twitter.com/ZbJTW9eTcj
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 29, 2023
The Cowboys shipped a fourth-round draft pick to the 49ers in exchange for Lance, who joins quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush on the 53-man roster. That compensation is significantly less than what it cost San Francisco to move up in the 2021 NFL Draft to acquire Lance, three first-round picks and a third-rounder. The deal will likely go down as one of the worst draft trades in NFL history.
While things didn't work out like the 49ers and Lance hoped, the quarterback appreciates his time in Santa Clara.
"I learned a ton," Lance said, per Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. "Like I said, just very thankful for everyone there. It's not how I expected it to go. It's not [how] I think a lot of people expected it to go. But I believe that everything happens for a reason. I think I'm here for a reason."
Trey Lance on 49ers: "I learned a ton. Like I said just very thankful for everyone there. It's not how I expected it to go. It's not now I think a lot of people expected it to go. But I believe that everything happens for a reason. I think I'm here for a reason."
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) August 29, 2023
