Falcons should take low-risk flyer on Trey Lance trade
Sunday marked the first time since Week 2 of the 2022 season that Trey Lance was under center for the San Francisco 49ers. Lance earned the start at quarterback for the Niners in their preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders but did little to change the negative narrative surrounding him.
With Lance trending towards potentially opening the season as the third-string quarterback behind starter Brock Purdy and free-agent signee Sam Darnold, the Atlanta Falcons would be wise to swoop in and make a buy-low bid for the former No. 3 overall pick.
The Falcons are set to enter the 2023 season with second-year pro Desmond Ridder as their starting quarterback. A four-year starter in college at Cincinnati, Ridder remains a relatively unknown commodity at the pro level. In four starts as a rookie, Ridder did little to dazzle, tossing just two touchdowns on 115 attempts.
A day two selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, Ridder's leash is bound to be shorter than most sophomore starting quarterbacks. Former Washington Commanders fan-favorite Taylor Heinicke could get some looks this season if Ridder falters, but he remains best suited to serve in a backup role.
The Falcons have invested heavily in offensive weaponry in recent seasons. From 2020 to 2021 they used back-to-back top-10 picks on pass catchers Kyle Pitts and Drake London. In this year's draft, they selected Bijan Robinson No. 8 overall, adding him to the league's third-ranked rush offense from 2022. Lance, who rushed for 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman at North Dakota State, would make Atlanta's rushing attack ever the more lethal.
Still just 23 years old, Lance presents low-risk, high reward at what is bound to be a reduced asking price. Striking a deal for the two-time FCS champion would enable the Falcons an additional opportunity to find their quarterback of the future before opting to invest a first-round pick on one in next year's draft.
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