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If Dak Prescott is going to be the long-term starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, then what is Trey Lance’s future in the Big D?

That’s the $22 million question for the former North Dakota State star. Lance was taken with the No. 3 pick of the 2021 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, who determined he was not going to be the future of that franchise, before Lance was traded to the Cowboys for a fourth-round pick prior to last season.

After Prescott and backup Cooper Rush, Lance was Dallas’ third quarterback for the entirety of 2023. With Lance, the Cowboys must now choose a choice. What role does he play now that the organization has forfeited a significant fourth-round pick to acquire him?

Several points:

— It’s obvious the Cowboys don’t view Lance as their QB of the present or near future because they are working on signing the veteran Prescott to a lengthy and expensive contract extension.

— That means, at best, Lance would be the No. 2 QB behind Prescott in 2024, but as of now Rush is still slotted as the backup and is under contract for ’24. It’s more likely Lance would remain the third QB for one more season.

However, if Lance proves to be good enough to be No. 2 during OTAs and the preseason, the Cowboys may trade him or Rush for a pick higher than the fourth round, and Dallas may have gained value in obtaining him.

Lance is currently obligated to pay $5.3 million in 2024 under the terms of his rookie contract. After that, things start to become interesting. Lance has a fifth-year option with the Cowboys through 2025. According to the contract tracking website Spotrac, they will owe him $22.4 million if they decide to exercise it.

That doesn’t seem plausible.

Oh my. This is not simple.

According to conversations Nick Harris, the NFL.com Cowboys beat writer, has had with Dallas coaches and front office, the franchise is still highly optimistic about Lance and eager to see what the quarterback can do in the summer and fall to determine his exact future.

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