Hall of Famer Steve Young addresses Trey Lance trade

Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Young was apprehensive about the 49ers trading quarterback Trey Lance to the Dallas Cowboys. 

"I have PTSD,"  the QB who played for the 49ers from 1987 to 1999 said, per Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. "I feel like we should never trade anything to Dallas again after the disastrous Charles Haley mistake. We traded away Super Bowls with that deal."

During his first stint with San Francisco, Haley won two Super Bowls in six seasons. Yet the 49ers dealt the star pass-rusher to Dallas in 1992. It was a massive mistake as the HOFer earned three more rings in five seasons with the Cowboys and beat the Niners in the NFC championship twice during that timeframe.

However, it's unlikely the trade for Lance will produce similar results. In two seasons with the 49ers, the third overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft only played in eight games, completing 56-of-102 passes for 797 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.

Lance, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury in 2022, needed a change of scenery after he was demoted to QB3 in San Francisco. But Young implied he doesn't believe Dallas is the right destination for the 23-year-old. 

"I'm a big fan of Trey," Young said. "It's not the first landing spot I would have thought of."  

Despite Lance's upside, quarterback Dak Prescott holds a firm grip on the starting job after making two Pro Bowls and winning 61 games in seven seasons. If he suffered an injury, Dallas would likely turn to backup Cooper Rush, who went 4-1 as a starter last season.

Since it's not clear how Lance fits in the Cowboys' plans, it's fair to say the 49ers haven't made another blunder.