Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones spoke about the team acquiring quarterback Trey Lance in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers. Jones spoke on the timeliness of the deal if this impacts Dak Prescott and Lance’s fifth-year option.
Jerry Jones on the Timeline of the Deal
Overall, Jones said the team moved quickly to get the deal done: “We didn’t waste any time the minute that we knew that they were serious about trading him, then we didn’t want the phone to hang up,” said Jones.
Jones said they felt good about what the team saw from him in the draft and during his time in the NFL.
One of those assessments was not only on his physical condition but also on his previous injuries. Jones said that was one of the first things he wanted clearance with. But it was a decision that was made “almost the minute” they heard his name and said, “Let’s get him.”
As for the timing of this trade, Jones said, “Well, I didn’t want another moment to go by because they said we want to trade him, and we said done.” The team has had their eye on Lance since the 2021 NFL Draft, but now that he has an opportunity to work with the current quarterback room.
Speaking of that draft class, without naming him specifically, Jones mentioned that had Jalen Hurts still been available, the team might have made this move two years ago.
“If he had hung around long enough, we might have done this on the Philadelphia quarterback two years ago on it. But, so, again, my point is that but this, we view it as an opportunity. We view it as an additional part of this team that could pay dividends this year. But certainly, when we look to the future, we’ll pay dividends in my mind,” said Jones.
Jones Talks About Trey Lance Working With Dak Prescott
Jones talked about what this acquisition does for the team’s future, saying Lance can get an opportunity to work with what he believes is one of the “finest quarterback rooms” because Dak Prescott is in it.
Jones commended Prescott’s ability to take what he does in the classroom to the practice field.
“Well, he gives us an opportunity to do what we would always like to be doing. It would be ideal with Dak [Prescott] to have a young perspective, developing quarterback that could just be in the room, I will use the term, but be on the team with him,” said Jones.
Ultimately, one of the deciding factors was based on Prescott’s ability to work with Lance. “We’ve got one of the finest places for young aspiring quarterbacks to basically learn from and evolve from,” declared Jones.
As for Lance’s impact this year, Jones said he doesn’t want to “plan on, count on, or wish for” help from him this year.
He also mentioned that they did not talk to Prescott before the trade was made, saying, “No. We didn’t tell anybody until we did it, period. There was nobody that knew it. We told Mike [McCarthy] after we done it, but my point is we just want to get it done.”
Although Jones has not talked to Prescott about it, he has spoken to McCarthy. Jones said that McCarthy liked Lance as a quarterback coming out, but ultimately, it was their decision to make.
“We don’t really, we very seldom ever talk to anybody about, a player, another player about, who we’re thinking about drafting or who we’re thinking about getting involved with,” mentioned Jones.
As for this impacting Prescott’s potential deal, Jones said it didn’t cross his mind about an impact on Prescott. He says he knows Prescott wants to do anything to help improve the team.
“We’ve been trying to do what we did today with this trade, almost every draft since, I’ve been drafting,” said Jones.
Jones Talks About Lance’s Fifth-Year Option
As for Lance’s fifth-year option, Jones says he’s aware of it but hasn’t given it any thought.
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“No, I mean, we’re excited about having him, and we’re excited about the terms of his agreement and we’re fully aware of that. We’ve got more money to invest in him next year, and we’ll look and see what happens there in the future as far as the fifth year is concerned or an extension of a contract,” said Jones.