Cowboys Declining QB Trey Lance’s Fifth-Year Option

According to Todd Archer, the Cowboys are declining QB Trey Lance’s fifth-year option.

Picking up the option would have cost Dallas $22.4 million fully guaranteed for the 2025 season, so this isn’t a big surprise.

The Cowboys have yet to sign QB Dak Prescott to a long-term extension and it appears as though he could play out the season and possibly test free agency next, assuming extension talks don’t pick up during training camp.

Dallas has spoken highly of Lance, but it remains to be seen whether he’s seriously considered a potential long-term option for the Cowboys in the event they can’t work out a deal with Prescott.

Lance, 23, was a one-year starter at North Dakota State. He was a unanimous All-American sophomore but was limited to appearing in just one game in 2020 due to NDSU’s schedule.

The 49ers traded up to select Lance with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Lance signed a four-year, $34,105,276 contract with the 49ers that includes a $22,163,837 signing bonus. The Cowboys acquired him from San Francisco in August of last year in exchange for a 2024 fourth-round pick. 

He’s set to make a base salary of $1,055,000 in 2024 and will count for $5,310,714 against this year’s cap. 

In 2022, Lance appeared in two games for the 49ers and completed 48.4 percent of his passes for 194 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. He also recorded 16 rushing attempts for 67 yards (4.2 YPC).