The 49ers reportedly engaged in discussions with a few other suitors prior to dealing the 2021 No. 3 pick to the Cowboys.
Before trading Trey Lance to the Cowboys, the 49ers reportedly discussed the quarterback’s availability with three other teams, including two AFC playoff contenders, leading up to Friday’s stunning deal.
According to The Athletic’s Diana Russini, the Bills and Ravens had “conversations” with San Francisco about a possible deal for Lance, the No. 3 pick in 2021, while the Lions also “showed interest” in the move.
While the talks were not in the advanced stages, Russini noted most of the early discussions concerning a trade involved an undisclosed sixth-round pick that “could get to a fifth.” In its deal with Dallas, the Niners acquired only a 2024 fourth-round pick for the once highly-touted QB prospect.
As of Saturday, neither the Ravens or Lions have publicly commented on their reported interest in Lance, though Bills general manager Brandon Beane later confirmed his club did, in fact, call the Niners to check on the 23-year-old QB.
“It’s like every other position like, we’ve taken a lot of calls,” Beane said Saturday on WIVB’s Buffalo Kickoff Live, per ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg. “As I’ve said before, things get out there, but there’s many calls we make that don’t get out there, but a higher profile guy, you know, that San Fran had traded up all those picks for, obviously, like anything we definitely inquired, and we’ve inquired about a lot. Obviously, he ended up going to Dallas.”
Given each teams’ situation under center, it certainly stands to wonder “What If?” had Buffalo, Baltimore or Detroit managed to land Lance as a backup for Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson or Jared Goff, respectively.
However, with the deal now official, the only lingering questions now left to answer will focus on how Lance will fair in Dallas, learning and competing behind incumbent QB1, Dak Prescott.
