Trey Lance of Dallas Cowboys looking on.Trey Lance (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)


Trey Lance made the Dallas Cowboys’ 53-man roster despite a forgettable preseason performance, but by no means does that guarantee he’ll spend the entire season with America’s Team.

In the Cowboys’ preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers, Trey Lance was 33-of-49 for 323 yards and one touchdown against five interceptions to go along with 90 rushing yards and one score on 11 carries.

Lance is the No. 3 quarterback on the Dallas depth chart behind Pro Bowler Dak Prescott and veteran Cooper Rush, one of the league’s best backups who boasts a 5-1 record as Prescott’s understudy.

The No. 3 pick of the 2021 NFL Draft was acquired by the Cowboys in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers last summer after he lost his starting job to Brock Purdy. But since there’s no path to starting in Dallas, it’s clear that Lance would benefit from a second change of scenery.

And one team that stands out as an idea landing spot for Trey Lance is the Las Vegas Raiders, who are taking a risk by rolling the dice on a Gardner Minshew II and Aidan O’Connell tandem.

While many have deemed Lance a bust, let’s keep in mind he only has four NFL starts under his belt. There’s a reason the 49ers sold the farm to move up and take him third overall three years ago, and Purdy’s rise to stardom in San Fran was out of Lance’s control.

Lance was a dual-threat star at North Dakota State but just hasn’t had a large enough sample size to show what he can do at the NFL level. This is where Raiders GM Tom Telesco and head coach Antonio Pierce should step in and take the chance on Lance while he’s available at a bargain price.

What Raiders Should Offer Cowboys For Trey Lance

The Raiders should be able to get Lance for a late-round draft pick, and a sixth-rounder in 2025 is probably enough for Jerry Jones to say yes. It only cost Dallas a fourth-round pick to get Lance a year ago, but his value has dropped ever since.

Lance just might hit his ceiling in a Raiders offense led by superstar Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Brock Bowers and Zamir White. The Raiders may as well acquire Lance as an insurance option, and then see what he can do behind center if Minshew and/or O’Connell struggle on offense.