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Jul 14, 2023

Trey Lance: The top four trade destinations

Now that the Trey Lance saga in San Francisco has all but played itself out after the former third overall pick lost the backup quarterback battle to Sam Darnold. This comes as a bit of a shock to

Now that the Trey Lance saga in San Francisco has all but played itself out after the former third overall pick lost the backup quarterback battle to Sam Darnold. This comes as a bit of a shock to everyone across the NFL landscape given this is just two years since Kyle Shanahan traded the farm to move up to go get the talented North Dakota State quarterback.

Lance is still talented in a league still desperate for a franchise quarterback with his skill set, so finding suitors won’t be hard. It will take the right coach that thinks he can fix him better than Shanahan could, the correct scheme, and the right roster fit to make this trade work.

Here are four teams that could reasonably make a move for the ousted quarterback.

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

It is going to be imperative for Trey Lance’s career to find himself in a place with an offensive whiz and the ability to sit and learn a new system for at least a year, the Vikings fit both of those descriptors perfectly. Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell comes from the Sean McVay coaching tree, and is one of the better offensive minds in the league as shown by this Minnesota offense last season. Lance would have the opportunity to sit behind veteran leader Kirk Cousins who is essentially on a year-to-year contract with the team.

Should Lance land in Minnesota, he can learn under both Cousins and O’Connell with the notion that the offense will be altered the following season for him as the presumed starter should he impress.

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Commanders do have an offensive whiz in offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy, but they lack a veteran starter at the position and instead offer up a complete unknown in current starting quarterback Sam Howell. While the acquisition of Trey Lance would not signal an immediate switch to him as the starter, it would bring a potential “pull in case of emergencies” lever for head coach Ron Rivera to pull in case Howell struggles early. Washington’s defense is solid enough to win games with a mobile quarterback and a talented stable of running backs, and with a giant question mark at the most important position in all of professional sports, a bold move like this one could save…or sink your season.

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Similar to the Commanders, the Atlanta Falcons possess the offensive mind needed to take advantage of Trey Lance’s skillset, but another total question mark at the quarterback position. With Atlanta switching to heavily leaning on their impressive ground attack, a player with Lance’s abilities could be well utilized in a heavy read option offense. Second year quarterback Desmond Ridder hasn’t shown enough to commit to him beyond this season, and the Falcons’ season could come down to how their young quarterback performs. Might as well improve those odds with an even more talented and just as big question mark.

Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

This whole offseason has been a ponderance in New England if they are truly committed to former first round pick Mac Jones at the quarterback spot. With backup Bailey Zappe breathing down the neck of the current starter, and an offense that looked defunct as ever last season, perhaps some athletic juice at the position could help if things fall apart early. Legendary head coach Bill Belichick has shown a willingness to experiment at the position since the departure of Tom Brady, as shown by the one year rental of Cam Newton.

This Patriots offense is heavily dependent on a strong running attack, and offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien is known as a quarterback whiz, so the schematic fit makes sense. It just becomes a matter if you are willing to wave the white flag on your first round investment in Jones, and if you can afford to allow Lance develop with patience growing thin in New England for just about everyone in the building.

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