The San Francisco 49ers have had a busy and disappointing offseason, losing key players in free agency. Aaron Banks, Charvarius Ward, Talanoa Hufanga, Javon Hargrave, and Jaylon Moore all signed elsewhere, while Deebo Samuel was traded to the Commanders. With limited resources and financial flexibility, the 49ers have failed to replace the departed contributors so far.
That is why they will turn to the NFL Draft once again to fill the roster holes. GM John Lynch has historically done an excellent job finding value on the margins in the draft. That doesn't mean, however, that he hasn't had big misses throughout his tenure.
Perhaps the biggest of them all was his decision to trade up to the third pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and select Trey Lance. Four years after that mistake, Lance has finally found his new home.
ESPN sources: former Cowboys and 49ers QB Trey Lance reached agreement today on a one-year deal worth up to $6.2 million with the Los Angeles Chargers. Lance and Taylor Heinicke are now behind starting QB Justin Herbert. pic.twitter.com/CaOZiWMLPa
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 4, 2025
NFL News: Chargers Sign QB Trey Lance
On Friday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Los Angeles Chargers were signing Trey Lance to a one-year deal.
Lance hit free agency after the Cowboys declined the fifth-year option on him last offseason and his rookie deal expired. He will now get another chance to establish himself under head coach Jim Harbaugh and behind Justin Herbert.
The former North Dakota State star failed to get the opportunity he was looking for in Dallas after the Cowboys traded a fourth-round pick to acquire him before the 2023 season. He spent most of the last two seasons as the third-string QB behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush. Even after Prescott suffered a season-ending injury during the season, he only got one start for the team.
In his four-year NFL career, Lance only has five starts under his belt. He has enough physical and athletic tools and is still only 24 years old. So it's understandable why another team would take a chance on him, but Lance has to demonstrate what he can do in training camp and preseason to at least land the QB2 job over Taylor Heinicke.