The move is a remarkable backtrack following the hefty investment the Niners' made in the hope of Trey Lance becoming a franchise quarterback
"We take full accountability," general manager John Lynch said. "We own that"
The San Francisco 49ers have traded quarterback Trey Lance to the Dallas Cowboys for a fourth-round pick less than three years after trading three first-round picks to draft him third overall.
Lance had lost the competition to Sam Darnold to be the back-up to Brock Purdy in San Francisco earlier in the week.
Setting the stage for his departure on Friday just hours before the Niners played their exhibition finale against the Los Angeles Chargers.
"When we told him that he was going to be the three, if he could find another opportunity that was good, we'd allow him to do that.
And he did," coach Kyle Shanahan said. "We feel he'll be better for it, and I think we will, too."
The move is a remarkable backtrack following the hefty investment the Niners made in the hope of Lance becoming a franchise quarterback.
"We take full accountability," general manager John Lynch said. "We own that. But I think his story is very much unwritten.
I have got a lot of belief in the kid. I think with his talent, his work ethic, he's going to forge a nice career in this thing."