Could Cowboys dangle Trey Lance to bolster defense before trade deadline?

But are the Cowboys keen to half with just lately acquired quarterback Trey Lance to achieve this? They simply could be, in accordance to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, who floated a attainable trade situation the place Dallas sends Lance and a 2025 sixth-round choose to the Denver Broncos for linebacker Alex Singleton and a 2025 fourth-round choose.

“If they could land a linebacker who will help them compete for the top seed in the NFC and get back a chunk of that draft capital, it would make sense,” Barnwell mentioned. “Lance is third on the Dallas quarterback depth chart, and as much as the team might bluff otherwise, it is likely to sign Dak Prescott to an extension next offseason, cutting off Lance’s path to a starting job.”

Despite Prescott’s struggles, the Cowboys are tied to him by means of the 2024 season. Sure, they might get out of his contract on the finish of 2023, however it could value greater than $61 million in useless cap to achieve this pre-June 1 and $25.5M post-June 1. 

That’s some huge cash to squander simply to do away with a QB who’s gained 63% % of his begins and led the Cowboys to 4 playoff appearances. It’s additionally a quantity that Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones possible doesn’t really feel snug consuming.

Best-case situation, Prescott can be serviceable sufficient over the subsequent 12 months and a half to maintain Dallas aggressive and play out his deal, main to a fast transition to Lance because the Cowboys’ 2025 starter.

Although the Broncos have fairly a bit of cash tied up with Russell Wilson’s contract,  they might reduce him post-June 1 subsequent season and soak up $35.4 million in useless cash, which doesn’t appear as steep contemplating Lance’s $1.05M base wage subsequent 12 months. 

Or they might maintain onto Wilson, have him work as Lance’s backup, and reduce him post-June 1 of 2025 having simply $18M in useless cash whereas saving $37 million in cap area.

“For the Broncos and Sean Payton, Lance would be a project and a potential long-term quarterback solution if the coach grows weary of Russell Wilson,” Barnwell added. “Lance would have a clearer path to reps as early as the end of the 2023 season, and his contract would be a low-cost, high-upside option for a team that lacks both draft capital and cap space.”