49ers trade Trey Lance to Cowboys in surprise move as 2023 season looms: reports

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The San Francisco 49ers moved on from quarterback Trey Lance on Friday and reportedly traded him to the Dallas Cowboys for a fourth-round draft pick.

The move ends Lance’s short tenure in San Francisco, where his injuries led to the rise of 2022 seventh-round draft pick Brock Purdy. Lance didn’t appear to do enough during training camp and preseason to even keep the backup job behind Purdy. The team brought in Sam Darnold to compete for the spot and the ex-Carolina Panthers quarterback won out over Lance.

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Quarterback Trey Lance of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before a preseason game against the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Aug. 13, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Lance was a standout at North Dakota State during his collegiate career and rocketed up draft boards prior to the 2021 draft. The 49ers, who were rumored to be going after Aaron Rodgers at the time, made a deal with the Miami Dolphins for the No. 3 overall pick. San Francisco gave up the No. 12 overall pick, the No. 29 overall pick in 2022, the No. 102 overall pick in 2022 and a first-round pick in 2023.

The No. 12 pick of the 2021 draft was subsequently traded to the Cowboys, who used it on linebacker Micah Parsons.

The 49ers were rumored to be after Mac Jones but picked Lance instead.

Lance made a few appearances in 2021 as the backup to Jimmy Garoppolo. But as Garoppolo suffered injuries during the year, Lance was thrust into several games. He had 603 passing yards and five touchdown passes in those games and was poised to start in 2022.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance takes part in a