Does Trey Lance to the Vikings make sense?

The Vikings must decide if trading for Lance is worth the risk. Considering the corner the 49ers are in and the Vikings' murky future at the quarterback position, it's a move that could benefit Minnesota. 

Cutting Lance would cost the 49ers $14.7 million in dead cap space for 2023, so trading him would be the best option. If the Vikings are willing to take on the remaining two years of Lance's fully-guaranteed rookie deal, owed $940k in 2023 and $5.31 million in 2024, the price to acquire him will likely be cheap. The 49ers have reportedly come up empty in search of a "significant" trade offer for Lance throughout the offseason, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Meanwhile, dropping Lance to third on the depth chart also hurt his trade stock. A high-ranking league executive told NFL insider Michael Silver that the asking price for Lance is going only "one direction" and that's down. 

Now that the price is out of the way, how badly do the Vikings need Lance? Well, they may need to replace starter Kirk Cousins sooner rather than later. Cousins is coming off arguably his best season as a pro, but he turned 35 earlier this month and is eligible for free agency at year's end. Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has already led a purge of costly veterans, dispatching wideout Adam Thielen, linebacker Eric Kendricks, and most recently, running back Dalvin Cook. Cousins could be the next one out the door, especially if the Vikings come up short in the postseason again. In the meantime, the franchise might also need a reliable backup. 

Beyond Cousins, there isn't much in the way of experience or promise on the quarterback depth chart in Minneapolis. Cousins backup, Nick Mullens, is the grizzled vet of the bunch, having started 17 games (5-12) over five seasons. After Mullens, the Vikings have 2023 fifth-round pick Jaren Hall and undrafted free agent Jordan Ta'amu. 

With an aging QB and no depth to speak of, taking a chance on Lance is probably worth it. Lance is a Minnesota native and played college at North Dakota State, a far cry from the limelight of being the 49ers quarterback. The change of scenery might be all Lance needs, so if you're the Vikings and the price is right, why not? 

If the ask for Lance is a sixth or seventh-rounder, the decision should be easy for the Vikings. Taking a gamble on a player selected third overall in the 2021 NFL Draft for practically nothing is the definition of low-risk, high-reward.