There's no denying that QB Trey Lance is one of the most intriguing players on the Dallas Cowboys roster ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. We're talking about a former Top 3 overall draft pick with one of the best arms in the league that has failed to adapt to the NFL thus far.
When the Cowboys spent a fourth-round draft pick in trading for him, it's clear they did it because they thought he was worth a closer look. Was there something special in him that they could tap into and maybe come out with an absolute quarterback steal?
Stephen Jones suggests they're already finding something as he offered some high praise on 105.3 The Fan on Friday. However, his strong choice of words should be taken with a grain (or much more than that) of salt.
“He exhibits everything you would think a top 5 pick would exhibit, or a top 10 pick would exhibit," Jones said on air. "Which is what he was in the draft and why we gave up a significant draft pick to get him."
Jones explained that in the Cowboys' view, Lance has the work ethic that is required to succeed at quarterback at the NFL level. No one denies the arm talent the Cowboys backup QB has but it's a positive thing to hear about his work ethic, which Jones even compares to Dak Prescott's.
"Trey exhibits similar type work ethic (to Dak)", said Jones. "Obviously Trey is a really good athlete in terms of being able to move around, his athletic ability, and finally the most important thing is his arm. He’s got a very live arm, a very strong arm. He continues to improve with his footwork and his accuracy.”
"We're certainly very excited about him."
Although the Cowboys' front office is clearly high enough on Lance to have given up a fourth-round draft pick for him, the reality is Jones' remarks about the young quarterback's improvement come off as insincere (or at least on the exaggeration side of things) when looking at the facts:
Lance arrived at Dallas near the start of the regular season and with training camp in the rearview mirror at that point, the Cowboys have barely been able to get a solid look at him. Most of his work has taken place during pregame under the supervision of QB coach Scott Tolzien. Quarterback evaluation doesn't really take place under the unrelenting pace of the regular season when coaches are game planning for the next opponent by Monday (or on the Sunday plane back home).
"If anyone knows about Trey Lance's potential it's definitely Scott Tolzien," reporter Joe Hoyt from Texas Lone Star Live told me in a podcast back in January.
The bulk of Lance's evaluation by the Cowboys is just about to take place in the 2024 offseason, with the most crucial element of it being when the pads come on and reps get real in training camp.
In the meantime, the reality is the Cowboys haven't gotten enough information on Lance as they need. For better or worse, they'll learn what they need to learn this summer.
More must-reads: