Quarterback Trey Lance is returning to the Los Angeles Chargers on a one-year deal worth up to $6.75 million, the team announced Saturday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Lance, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, has yet to live up to the expectations of a top selection, in part because he has rarely been given extended playing time. Over two seasons in San Francisco, he started four games, throwing for 797 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions on 56-of-102 passing while going 2-2. An ankle injury cost him the starting job and opened the door for Brock Purdy’s rise.
In 2023, Lance was traded to the Dallas Cowboys for a fourth-round pick but saw limited action, starting only the final game of the 2024 season against the Washington Commanders, completing 20 of 34 passes for 244 yards without a touchdown or interception and rushing for 26 yards in a 23-19 loss. His playing time in Los Angeles followed a similar pattern, with a single start in the Chargers’ season finale against the Denver Broncos, finishing with 146 passing yards, one interception, and 20 completions on 44 attempts.
Now 25, Lance has long been viewed as a developmental quarterback. He played just 19 games at North Dakota State and has never been given the extended on-field opportunities typically afforded to top draft picks, making the upcoming season with the Chargers another chance to prove his potential.
