By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-04-04 23:36:38 | Updated at 2025-04-05 05:35:57
6 hours ago
Former third-overall pick Trey Lance has signed a one-year deal to be a backup quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the deal will put Lance in the City of Angels for one year on a deal worth $6.2million.
He'll now be competing for the No. 2 role with Taylor Heinicke to back-up superstar Justin Herbert.
It's the latest move in a career that hasn't lived up to its promise after Lance was viewed as the next great FCS quarterback prospect.
Lance was selected third overall by the San Francisco 49ers in 2021 out of North Dakota State University, but never fulfilled his potential as injuries derailed his career.
Most recently, he was a backup for the Dallas Cowboys - but didn't win the starting role last season even after Dak Prescott got injured and ruled out for the rest of the campaign.
Former Dallas Cowboys backup quarterback Trey Lance has signed with the Chargers
Lance will serve as a backup to starter Justin Herbert and will fight for the No. 2 spot
Drafted third overall by the Niners in 2021, injuries have derailed Lance's career ever since
After being drafted to the Niners, Lance spent most of his rookie year on the bench behind Jimmy Garoppolo in 2021.
But Niners management were determined to give Lance the starting job despite Garoppolo still being on the team.
Lance was the starter in Week 1 for San Francisco, but then suffered a season-ending ankle injury the following week that required surgery.
Garoppolo stepped in to replace him, but he too got injured which led to the rise of third-stringer Brock Purdy.
After taking the injured Niners to an NFC Championship game, San Francisco leadership decided to ride with Purdy as their 2023 starter - relegating Lance to a backup role in training camp.
Eventually, Lance was dealt to the Dallas Cowboys in August of 2023 for a fourth-round pick.
After Prescott's injury, Cooper Rush was elevated to the starting role while Lance was named a backup.
Across his entire NFL career, Lance has played in just 12 games - five of those being starts - and has thrown for 1,063 yards, five touchdowns, and four interceptions while rushing for 276 yards and one touchdown.
