Cowboys Make Big Trey Lance Decision After NFL Draft

The Dallas Cowboys' quarterback room is filled with uncertainty beyond this season. Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush are scheduled to become free agents next offseason. The only other quarterback on the roster, Trey Lance had a fifth-year option on his contract for the 2025 season. The Cowboys are reportedly declining it, making Lance a free agent next spring.

Cowboys News: Dallas Declining Trey Lance's Fifth-Year Option

This is not a big surprise. Lance is making $5.31 million this season but would have made $22.4 million if the Cowboys were to pick up this option due to Lance being a former third-overall pick. Considering that they will have a massive cap hit for Prescott already, declining Lance's guaranteed money was a no-brainer.

This doesn't mean, however, that the Cowboys don't have faith in Lance. Presumably, they still believe in him long-term since they gave up a fourth-round pick for him less than a year ago. Lance was behind Rush in the depth chart last season, not making an appearance for the Cowboys, but he is expected to surpass him this year.

Lance is already one of multiple disappointing quarterbacks from the 2021 NFL Draft. He was one of five signal-callers selected in the first round along with Zach Wilson, Justin Fields, Mac Jones, and Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence was the only one out of that group whose team picked up his fifth-year option. The others got traded before their rookie contracts were up.

The former North Dakota State star is still only 23 years old. He still has the potential to establish his career in the NFL. Whether he will get the chance to shine in Dallas to do that remains to be seen.

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