The Dallas Cowboys are preparing to go separate ways with quarterback Trey Lance. The third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Lance flamed out with the San Francisco 49ers before he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 2023. While Lance’s skill set had some upside behind Dak Prescott, it never materialized and Lance is prepared to become a free agent later this month.
With Lance hitting the open market, the question isn’t if he’ll leave Dallas but who will take a chance on the 24-year-old. But a surprising suitor emerged during the NFL Scouting Combine this weekend.
Colts Emerge As Potential Suitor for Cowboys QB Trey Lance
The Indianapolis Colts are looking for a quarterback this offseason and Lance could be a solution. In a notebook from ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler, the Colts were discussed as a potential destination for the North Dakota State product to add competition for current starter Anthony Richardson.
“As the Colts look for veteran quarterback options, names on their radar include Daniel Jones, Justin Fields, Trey Lance and Jacoby Brissett. This is a mix of quarterbacks who can support Anthony Richardson and guys who will be looking to start games somewhere…Indianapolis has not given up on Richardson, but how the team approaches the free agency period will be telling.”
The Colts thought they had their franchise quarterback when they selected Richardson with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft, but it hasn’t panned out in the first two seasons, completing just 50.6% of his passes for 2,391 yards, 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. While the Colts reportedly don’t want to give up on Richardson, he was benched for Joe Flacco last season and could be heading into a make-or-break scenario.
Lance has had a similar career trajectory as Richardson, appearing in just 12 games over his first four NFL seasons. While Prescott went down with a season-ending hamstring injury last year, Lance wasn’t able to overtake Cooper Rush and made just one start last year, completing 20-of-34 passes for 244 yards and running six times for 26 yards in a Week 18 loss to the Washington Commanders.
If Indianapolis wants to provide legitimate competition, Jones, Fields or Brissett would be an ideal target. But if the Colts want a house of cards for Richardson to earn the job, Lance would be a good solution. It’s another place that Lance could be playing next season but it’s becoming apparent wherever that is, it won’t be Dallas.
