T
he Los Angeles Chargers may have found themselves a gem this offseason. Signing former first round draft pick Trey Lance to a one-year deal this offseason, the move flew under the radar. Los Angeles already had two quarterbacks in starter Justin Herbert and backup Taylor Heinicke, with the Lance signing seen as unnecessary.
But on July 31, Lance started for the Chargers in the Hall of Fame game against the Detroit Lions and proved why he was drafted No. 3 overall by the San Francisco 49ers in 2021. Completing 65% of his passes (13/20) for 120 yards and two touchdowns, Lance tore it up in his first taste of action in 2025. Now, the young quarterback is revealing exactly why he chose to sign with Los Angeles in the spring.
Lance’s Decision to Pick LA
A performance like that is a big reason why Lance chose to come to the Chargers. Believing that he can still be a starter in the NFL, Lance cites Herbert and head coach Jim Harbaugh as two people that can really help him out and has been able to learn a lot from them already in the short time he has been on the team.
“Going into free agency this offseason, my goal was to take a big step in my career,” Lance said . “I want to be a starter one day. That’s my goal and I believe it will happen. I’m just waiting for my opportunity. Coming the Chargers, Justin [Herbert] is obviously a great guy to learn from. Great situation for me to be in.”
Lance is only 25-years-old but is already on his third team. Spending the first two seasons of his career with the 49ers, Lance was traded to the Dallas Cowboys prior to the start of the 2023 regular season, spending two seasons as the third string behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush . Now, Lance is looking to make the most out of his time with the Chargers and revive his career.
Lance’s Outlook Going into 2025
It is vitally important that Lance finds success with the Chargers. Even though he is still young for his position, this is Lance’s final shot in the NFL. But heading into the 2025 season, there is a very good chance that Lance earns the second string job– especially when you factor in his performance in the Hall of Fame game.
Herbert is not only locked in as the starter for this season, but he is locked in as the franchise quarterback, signing a five-year, $262.5 million extension with the franchise in the summer of 2023. Behind Herbert is where things become murky though. Heinicke, the presumed backup, has been in the NFL since he signed as an undrafted free agent in 2015 and has seen success as a backup. But Heinicke is also prone to inconsistent play and is not highly regarded in terms of pro level talent. A former first round pick like Lance should beat him out in camp if he performs well enough. The Chargers also have undrafted rookie, DJ Uiagalelei , but he is most likely the odd man out.
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