Stephen Jones: Dallas Cowboys ‘more than likely’ will not pick up Trey Lance’s fifth-year option

Dallas Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones recently said that the team will “more than likely” not pick up the fifth-year option on quarterback Trey Lance.

“We won’t get into that,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan. “We’ll kind of see how things go but obviously, being a quarterback, we know how high those options are. It’s more than likely that we won’t pick it up.”

The San Francisco 49ers originally selected Lance with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of North Dakota State. Lance suited up in just eight games (four starts) for San Francisco, throwing for 797 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions on 54.9% passing. Lance’s career suffered a major setback in 2022, as in the second game of the season of his first as QB1, he suffered a season-ending right ankle injury.

The Cowboys acquired Lance for a future fourth round pick ahead of the 2023 season. Lance wasn’t active for a single game this past season for Dallas. For Lance, a former first-rounder with no Pro Bowls to his name, the fifth-year option would have cost Dallas $22.4 million. Coming out of the draft, he signed a four-year rookie deal for $34.1 million with a $22.16 million signing bonus and all money guaranteed.

Stephen Jones praises quarterback Trey Lance after Year 1 with Dallas

Jones spoke highly of Lance during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan last week.

“He just exhibits everything you would think a Top 5, Top 10 pick would exhibit. Which is what he was in the draft, and which is why we gave up a significant draft pick to get him,” Jones said.

Jones compared his worth ethic to that of Cowboys starting quarterback Dak Prescott.

“What you look for in a quarterback is, the work ethic is a must to be successful in this league. It’s a very demanding position,” Jones said. “Trey exhibits similar-type work ethic [as Prescott],” Jones said. “Obviously, Trey is a really good athlete, in terms of being able to move around and his athletic ability. And finally, the most important thing is his arm. He’s got a very live arm, very strong arm. He continues to improve with his footwork and his accuracy. Which is what you expect from a young guy coming into the league.”