Could LA Rams outsmart the NFL with 1 of these 5 out of favor QBs?

Look for a Lone Star

Dallas Cowboys backup quarterback Trey Lance is a rather inexpensive insurance policy for 2023. After all, the young man costs the Cowobys just $940,000 after ringing up nearly $7.8 million from the San Francisco 49ers in 2022. But don't think he is a cheap insurance policy, as his salary cap hit jumps back up to $5,310,719 in 2024. I, for one, am not confident in the Dallas Cowboys willingness to pay that much for an untested backup quarterback.

In terms of what Trey Lance has shown under center so far, you likely won't be too impressed, He has competed in eight NFL games, started four contests, and has a record of 2-2 while he played for the San Francisco 49ers. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 226 pounds, the young hurler is the prototypical NFL quarterback in terms of size.

Lance was selected in Round 1 with the third overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, but he never really got his shot to start for the 49ers. He was plagued by injuries, playing behind staring quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, and then lost his job outright to the performance of late selection Brock Purdy.

Trey times could be the chanm

After he was clearly not going to compete for a starting role with the 49ers, he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2024 fourth-round draft pick. While the Cowboys have not gotten any production out of Lance, I believe that they would be willing to deal Lance for a Day 3 draft pick in the offseason to avoid being on the hook for $5 million.

While I am not suggesting that Lance is a sure fire hit for the LA Rams, we know that the Rams invested a Round 4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft for rookie quarterback Stetson Bennett, and have nothing to show for it yet. A late pick for a young quarterback on the final year of his contract is a low-risk and possibly high-reward investment. The alternative? Facing the 2024 NFL season with one of the oldest active quarterbacks in the NFL, and a quarterback who was out his entire rookie season under mysterious circumstances.

If the price is right, why not?