7 Teams That Should Trade for Trey Lance Before the 2023 NFL Draft

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are currently in one of the more perplexing spots in the 2023 NFL Draft, as the team is in desperate need of finding a young quarterback to build around after plugging and playing veterans since Andrew Luck’s retirement, but depending on how the draft board shakes out in front of them, there is a chance that the top three quarterbacks on their board are taken before they are on the clock.

If Indy is left empty-handed in finding a quarterback at number four overall, trading for Lance might be the opportunity to finally find their franchise signal-caller. Anything that can be said about Anthony Richardson’s potential fit with the Colts and new head coach Shane Steichen can be said about Trey Lance, and Indianapolis could potentially acquire Lance while still maintaining the fourth overall pick, allowing them to address a different position of need, such as defensive end or cornerback. There certainly seems to be a sentiment that the Colts are finally looking for “their guy” in this draft, but depending on what happens in front of them, Lance might be the best decision moving forward for a team who should quickly be back in contention for the AFC South crown with solid quarterback play.

Las Vegas Raiders

The 49ers originally drafted Lance to sit behind Jimmy Garoppolo for a season before taking command of the offense. Just a few years later, the Raiders could attempt the same plan after signing the former 49ers veteran in free agency. Garoppolo certainly seems to be quarterback one for the Raiders in 2023, especially because the quarterback will be reuniting with his former Patriots offensive coordinator and current Raiders’ head coach Josh McDaniels. However, the team is not tied to the veteran beyond the 2024 season, so it is fairly reasonable to imagine a scenario where the Raiders acquire Lance to eventually join a talented offense that includes the likes of Davante Adams and Josh Jacobs.

This move could be a somewhat frustrating outcome for Lance, but there are worse veteran quarterbacks to sit behind and learn from than a player who took the 49ers to the Super Bowl just three years ago.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans have several holes on their roster that need to be addressed to get back to the top of the AFC, and while the quarterback position isn’t the biggest immediate need, a succession plan is necessary with veteran Ryan Tannehill entering the final year of his deal. With Malik Willis reportedly falling out of favor with the front office, trading for Lance could be the solution that the team thought they were getting in the third round just a year ago.

The Titans could be in play for a quarterback with the 11th overall pick if the right guy falls to them, but trading for Lance could free up that spot to add more talent elsewhere on the roster. Outside of last year’s first-round selection in Treylon Burks and a perennial All-Pro running back in Derrick Henry, the Titans offense doesn’t have a whole lot to work with, so adding a playmaker like Jaxon Smith-Njigba and then using a later-round pick to acquire Lance could quickly kickstart an offensive retooling in Tennessee.