San Francisco 49ers GM John Lynch Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

49ers GM John Lynch admits defeat with Trey Lance

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 8/26/23

Hours after the trade of former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance to the Dallas Cowboys commenced earlier on Friday, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch admitted defeat when asked about the situation.

Speaking on the 49ers preseason broadcast, Lynch called it a "hard day" trading Lance while ultimately realizing that moving him was the right decision.

"We took a shot and it didn't work out. We own that. We take accountability for it," Lynch said. "I think - his story is still very much unwritten. I'm excited for Trey. Dallas stepped up and really wanted him. And came after him and I think it's going to be a great landing spot for him."

49ers GM John Lynch -- in the booth -- on trading QB Trey Lance to the Cowboys: "We took a shot and it didn't work out. We own that. We take accountability for it... his story is still very much unwritten. I'm excited for Trey. Dallas stepped up and really wanted him." pic.twitter.com/4s6ERBYMNu
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 26, 2023

Lynch backtracked a bit afterward, saying Lance's failures in San Francisco resulted from "circumstances" and injury and through no fault of the Niners. While that may be true, a player they selected third overall only two years ago will now suit up for another NFL team and an NFC rival at that. Furthermore, sweeping the price paid for Lance under the rug isn't as easy as Lynch and company aim to make it. Lynch parted with three first-round picks, including one to select Micah Parsons and a third-rounder to take Lance.

The Niners seemingly hid behind the emergence of Brock Purdy in 2022, but now their future QB hopes reside in the former "Mr. Irrelevant" and another former third-overall pick, Sam Darnold, now on his third NFL team.

How things will work out for Lance in Dallas or even if Dak Prescott will give an inch, is anyone's guess. However, no matter how much it might hurt for the Niners, parting with Lance was probably best for all parties involved.

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