After Cowboys trade, Rams may be the last option for this young FA quarterback

When it comes to an NFL roster, some players are fits, and some simply are not. For the Los Angeles Rams, the team has parted ways with players before the four-year rookie contract expires, but so infrequently that it's not much to talk about. While other teams may or may not put in as much effort to develop young players, it's something that should happen with young quarterbacks.

I expect that former San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys young quarterback Trey Lance would agree with that if you were to ask him. Trey Lance competed for two seasons with the 49ers before being traded away to the Cowboys. He played one game with the Cowboys in 2024, only to find himself in free agency and struggling to find any interest among NFL teams.

Adding salt to injury, the Dallas Cowboys just traded for New England Patriots QB Joe Milton III. Lance would have cost the Cowboys not trade compensation to return. The move signals the Cowboys decision to move on from Lance:

To be honest, few NFL teams have interest in Trey Lance right now. That is why the Rams should consider signing him to a minimal contract to see what, if anything, he has in his tank.

Lance is a 6-foot-4, 226-pound quarterback who has some mobility Lance was originally drafted by the 49ers as the heir apparent to then-starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. But Lance struggled, and teammate QB Brock Purdy did not. That made the 49ers decision easy. Trade Lance and stick with Purdy.

Why Rams should take a low-risk chance on Lance

The Rams front office seems content to give promising draft prospects second chances even after their early NFL experiences turned sour. The Rams claimed former first-round CB Emmanuel Forbes off waiver form the Washington Commanders. That action was not about finding a starting defense back (although that would be nice) as it was about adding depth and improving the overall talent for the secondary.

Trey Lance is not going to be the starter in 2025. He won't even be the backup quarterback. But he could be a quarterback to stash on the roster for training camp to see if he has enough upside to stick around. Not only does he possess solid NFL size, but he does have some mobility.

And he used to be current Rams backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo's teammate.

The Rams take on practically no risk by adding Lance to the roster on a one-year team-friendly deal. But by doing so, they have a deep quarterback room for training camp, import more competition, and save a draft pick that might be spent on a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Rams are committed to addressing quarterback succession this offseason. But signing free agent Trey Lance can give the team a solid solution for now.

There is little chance that GM Les Snead can find a proper rookie successor for Matthew Stafford in the 2025 NFL Draft. It's for that reason that Trey Lance could be a solid option for the Rams. The team has restored the luster to QBs Baker Mayfield, Carson Wentz, and Jimmy Garoppolo. Adding Trey Lance to the Rams roster may not solve the team's quarterback crises in 2026. But it could solve Trey Lance's bleak NFL future in 2025.

As always, thanks for reading.

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