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

Washington Commanders

The Commanders are one of the most quarterback-needy teams across the league, but with the 16th overall pick, there is little to no chance that Washington will be able to find their quarterback of the future without trading up several spots into the top of the draft. With a talented roster that appears to be on the cusp of breaking out in a loaded NFC East, bringing in Lance could help take their offense to the next level which is necessary to compete within their division.

Currently, the Commanders have veteran Jacoby Brissett and 2022 fifth-round pick Sam Howell on the roster, and while neither may be the long-term answer for the nation’s capital, Lance could be a perfect candidate to sit behind Brissett if necessary, or even start early in 2023. With a loaded receiver room and a dependable, downhill back in Brian Robinson Jr, Lance could wind up in a great position to immediately contribute to a quietly dynamic offense.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It’s not surprising for a team who lost a first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback to have some question marks at the position after his departure, but the Buccaneers nonetheless have some big questions behind center that will need to be sorted out if this team truly wishes to compete in 2023. The Buccaneers signed veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield to compete against former second-round pick Kyle Trask ahead of next season, but adding Lance could potentially lead to bringing in the best quarterback on the roster.

With Mayfield being a somewhat proven commodity and Trask being the opposite, Lance could be the highest upside option for a team who seems to be slowly deteriorating from their Super Bowl run just a few seasons ago. There are some holes on the roster, especially on the offensive side of the ball, but with solid receivers – when healthy – Tampa could be an interesting option for Lance to develop into a quality starter in the NFL.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings don’t have the biggest need for the quarterback, but with Kirk Cousins signed with the team only through the 2023 season, it might be time for Minnesota to think about a realistic succession plan. In this scenario, Cousins would almost undoubtedly remain the starter, but Lance could eventually take the reigns of an offense that features perhaps the best receiver in the NFL.

The Vikings have reportedly been interested in finding a high-ceiling quarterback in recent years, and Lance could be a great opportunity to add that type of player without having to give up too much premium draft capital. Like Garoppolo, there are certainly worst quarterbacks than Cousins to sit behind and learn from for a season or so, and adding some of Cousins’ consistency and fundamentals to a player with as high of a ceiling as Lance could be the answer to staying relevant at the position in a division that features three promising quarterbacks who are all under the age of 30.