Cowboys Trade of Dak Prescott Backup Trey Lance Plan? Truth vs. Rumor
FRISCO - The concept is called "One Red Paperclip,'' and it stems from the true story of a guy named Kyle MacDonald who literally began his quest for "trade-ups'' with a single red paperclip ... and 14 swaps later, ended up owning a house.
The Dallas Cowboys are aware of the technique, and it exists as being among their options regarding backup quarterback Trey Lance and his future.
Yes, Trey Lance could serve as a living, breaking "Red Paperclip.'' But those who are speculating about a coming trade of one of two Dak Prescott backup QBs need to get their facts straight.
Those facts are ...
*Dallas does not at this time view Lance, brought to The Star last fall in a trade with San Francisco in which a fourth-round pick was sacrificed, as "competition'' for Prescott. That was, and remains, an inane suggestion.
*Dallas cannot possibly know if Lance could be an "heir'' to Prescott should the Cowboys truly decline/fail to extend Dak. He's in the final year of his deal; no extension means he's a free agent in 2025. How can the Cowboys presently know enough about Lance - once the third-overall pick in his draft who was given up on by 49ers coach/QB guru Kyle Shanahan - to project him as a starter on a contender?
*Dallas, sources have told CowboysSI.com, would like to retain Lance and at some point might offer him a long-term deal. But at the same time, we broke the story of the Cowboys deciding against exercising his fifth-year option for 2025 - meaning they don't want to guarantee him $22 million for that season.
So ... just like Dak can be a free agent, Lance can be one as well. Therefore, we have another reason why Dallas can't "count on him'' as a someday first-teamer.
*What could happen this summer? Lance could beat out Cooper Rush, leading to a trade of Rush. Or Lance could play well enough in a summer showcase to draw trade offers.
And if the Cowboys get an offer that is better than the fourth-rounder given up? The Cowboys will have succeeded at the "Red Paperclip'' game.
Which brings us to the hot rumor that has been delivered with too little research.
The Minnesota Vikings are plagued by uncertainty at quarterback because Kirk Cousins is a free agent. So, along comes via Rich Eisen, who is reviving the Trey Lance-to-Minnesota idea that over time has essentially been rooted in the fact that Lance is a native Minnesotan.
"I heard this rumor (at the NFL Scouting Combine), that a possible solve at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings is a native of the state, and his name is Trey Lance," Eisen said.
NFL Network's Eisen is no shock jock; he said "rumor,'' which allows him plenty of elbow room. But then he tried to get specific ... which means he got in trouble.
"I'm just wondering if the Vikings flip 'em a (third-rounder), a Friday night pick," Eisen said. "Do they go ahead and do that?"
From a Vikings standpoint? We have no idea if they'd do anything that. Lance didn't play a single snap in 2023, so their opinion of him would have to be based on their 2021 scouting report on him. And again, contractually? They'd want to find a way to create a deal with him, otherwise, this trade would for Minnesota be nothing more than an ill-advised rental.
But here's where the rubber meets the road on "rumors vs. research'': While Dallas could in theory consider its "Red Paperclip'' series of transactions a victory if Minnesota gives up a third-rounder ... the Vikings won't try to get Trey Lance by trading a third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
How do we know this? Because the Vikings don't own a third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. So ... back to the drawing board!
