Can Trey Lance revitalize career with Jim Harbaugh, Chargers?

Quarterback Trey Lance is only 24 years old, but he's been in the NFL for nearly half a decade. He is entering his fifth NFL season and will be joining his third team.

On Friday, Lance reportedly agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Chargers. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, it's a one-year deal worth up to $6.2M. While Justin Herbert is the Chargers' undoubted franchise quarterback, Lance will battle veteran Taylor Heinicke for backup duties.

Lance, who spent the last two years with the Dallas Cowboys, was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft but has appeared in just 12 career games. His career was derailed in 2022 when he suffered a season-ending ankle injury. 

Overall, Lance has thrown for 1,063 yards in his career with five touchdowns and four interceptions with a 56.6% completion percentage and has rushed for 276 yards with one score.

Lance makes for an interesting flier, as he has a similar skillset to a quarterback who thrived with Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman. 

While head coach and OC of the San Francisco 49ers, Harbaugh and Roman maximized Colin Kaepernick's talents. Kaepernick, like Lance, was a dual-threat quarterback with size, physicality and a strong throwing arm. Kaepernick and Lance are even the same height and frame, as Kaepernick is 6-foot-4 and 229 pounds while Lance is 6-foot-4 and 226 pounds. The partnership between Harbaugh, Roman and Kaepernick led to consecutive NFC Championship Game appearances and one Super Bowl appearance. 

While Lance hasn't lived up to his potential in the pros thus far, the hope will be that the Chargers can take his game to the next level. He won a national championship at North Dakota State and had a career starting record of 17-0 and an incredible 2020 title-winning campaign. 

For North Dakota State during that season, Lance threw for 2,786 yards, 28 touchdowns and zero interceptions while setting the NCAA record for most passing attempts in a season without an interception (287). He also rushed for 1,100 yards and 14 scores.

Lane's prolific college numbers are why he was a No. 3 overall pick and are why a team like the Chargers is willing to take a chance on him. The athletic ability is there, but will the consistency ever come? Lance being paired with Harbaugh should give him a fighting chance to revitalize his career.