Cowboys Source: Trey Lance Contract Plan With New 5th-Year Option Value Reveal

FRISCO – The Dallas Cowboys have a “Trey Lance Plan,” and one that comes into focus even more clearly now that we have the new NFL salary cap number and with it, the locked-in salary figures in categories ranging from “franchise tags” to “fifth-year options.”

And with that, the Cowboys now officially know quarterback Lance’s fifth-year option value … and a reinforcement of their concept of what to do with it … and with Lance himself.

The “fifth-year option” this year applies to the 2021 NFL Draft Class, where Lance was the third overall pick by San Francisco. In the cases of those players, they are under contract for 2024 (the fourth year of their rookie deals), and their teams can place them under contract for an additional year by giving them a league-determined boost in fifth-year salary.

Officially, Lance will receive $22.408 million in 2025.

And no, as one insider clarifies to CowboysSI.com, paying him is not part of the grand scheme here at The Star.

That should not be seen as an indication that the deal is a failure, though. It is still intended to be a “dart throw.”

Dallas may claim that it “took” him in the upcoming NFL Draft because it handed up a fourth-round pick in exchange for this.

What comes next? In the most extravagant scenario, we assume that Dallas decides not to sign Dak Prescott in the long run while simultaneously announcing a Lance at OTAs and training camp. and after 2024, they let Dak go, appointing Lance to take his place.

What’s not right with that idea? Besides it being unlikely that Lance would “beat out” Dak, after 2024 they’d both be free … and the Cowboys would likely have to spend way more than $22.4 million to retain the younger player. Two more realistic scenarios … 1 – No, Prescott doesn’t get outplayed by Lance. But the latter player shows such promise this summer that Dallas is able to trade him (or Cooper Rush) in exchange for value in excess of a fourth-round pick. That would be “winning the trade.” 2 – The Cowboys convince Lance to sign a new contract to serve as Dak’s backup/caddie/heir/whatever. Would a young player buy that concept and thus bypass a chance to compete for a starting job elsewhere? It’s not unprecedented … and we’re told it is part of Dallas’ thought process here.