Cowboys Stephen Jones speaks about QB Trey Lance: ‘We’re very pleased’

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Stephen Jones just showered praise on Trey Lance. What could this mean for the Cowboys plans at QB?

In a recent talk show appearance, Stephen Jones showed no restraint in his praise of Cowboys quarterback prospect Trey Lance. Given Dallas’ approach to this offseason, both in not moving yet on Dak Prescott’s deal and other signs of a franchise reset, how much should we read into Jones’ comments?

Appearing on 105.3 The Fan on Friday, Jones discussed the impression that Lance has made on the front office since joining the team in late August of 2023. The Cowboys traded their fourth-round pick in this year’s draft to acquire Lance, a former third-overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2021, and the last 2-3 years of his rookie contract.

Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones on @1053thefan on QB Trey Lance: “He’s done nothing but excite us even more as he’s worked here all of last season and in the offseason, in terms of his work ethic, his skill level. We’re very pleased.

“He exhibits everything you would think a top 5/top…

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) April 19, 2024

Depending on what you believe, you could take these comments in a few different ways. Let’s consider the two most likely angles: (1) the Cowboys are trying to entice someone to trade for Lance this year, and (2) they’re trying to sell their own fans on Lance taking over for Prescott next year.

Speaking of Lance’s traits as being worthy of a top-5 pick could be deliberate bait for the current QB-needy teams in the league. Not that Dallas expects someone to send them their first-rounder, but what about something on Day 2? Then the Cowboys can feel good about flipping Lance for some profit in the draft, which may have been their hope all along when they added him.

Undoubtedly, Lance’s three years in the league will scare some off given his lack of production. But despite that, he’s still just 23 years old. He’s actually younger than 2024 prospects Bo Nix and Michael Penix, who are potential first-round selections. For a team seeking immediate change, a guy with Lance’s low mileage but years of experience learning in the NFL could have merit.

On the other hand, Dallas might appreciate those same things about Lance. What if their goal is to keep Lance through this final year of his rookie deal and then make him the starter in 2025? The idea sounded crazy a year ago, but it’s becoming saner as we move through this strange offseason.

The Cowboys’ much-discussed inactivity in free agency points to a team thinking more about the future than the present. If that’s true, how much does Prescott, who turns 31 in July, factor into those plans? Could Dallas be planning to suffer through this year’s $55.4 million cap hit, take the compensatory pick when he signs elsewhere next March, and toss the keys to Lance?

Let’s go back to Jones’ comments, specifically selling Lance like an elite draft prospect. Imagine if the Cowboys had one of the early picks Thursday night. How many would be clamoring for the team to take a quarterback, even if it meant sitting behind Prescott for a few years of grooming? Well, Jones is trying to tell you that they already have a young guy with major upside, who will now have two years of development in Dallas’ system before 2025.

If Lance spends another year on the bench, it’s unlikely there will be some big market for his services next spring. He wouldn’t even get the $22 million in annual salary that the fifth-year option, which the Cowboys declined, would’ve provided. So Dallas could be banking on signing Lance up for a few years on the cheap, freeing up cap space to rebuild the team around CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons as superstars on each side of the ball.

This may sound like wild speculation, but the 2024 offseason thus far has left us with little else. The Cowboys aren’t operating like a team trying to squeeze every drop out of their current design, but rather preparing for the next one. Are they hoping Trey Lance can fetch them another early draft pick to help in that endeavor, or perhaps that he’ll be the quarterback in a new era for Dallas? We’ll keep tracking this storm as it grows in intensity.