The 49ers were never going to come out of the Trey Lance trade looking good, but their decision to deal him to the Cowboys for a 2024 fourth-round pick was a harsh reminder that this regime cares very little for outside perception of their actions.

Over two years ago from their decision to make a blockbuster trade of three first-round picks to move to acquire the third overall selection in the 2021 draft, with which they would take Lance, the Niners traded him to San Francisco's historically most hated rival just hours before their third preseason game with the Chargers.

It is news that will anger many in the fanbase frustrated at Lance's lack of opportunities to develop since he was drafted, but the reality is the 49ers are probably happy with their return for a player who, after losing the backup quarterback battle with Sam Darnold, was likely in their mind essentially already a sunk cost.

Lance's paucity of playing time was, save for the 2021 season, not by design. The 49ers gave him to the keys to the offense at the start of the 2022 campaign, only for his season to be ended by injury in Week 2.

That cruel blow, followed by the stunning emergence of Brock Purdy, has turned Lance into of the great hard-luck stories in recent NFL history.

He now gets a fresh start with an NFC contender away from the spotlight of the team that drafted him, though, in terms of playing time, nothing has changed. Lance was third string with the San Francisco and will be third string in Dallas.

From a 49ers' perspective, however, Lance's departure gets them off the hook for $6.24 million in guaranteed salary over the next two seasons. They will take on a dead cap charge of $8.36 million this year and $5.5 million next year.

More importantly, the pick they got in return likely represents the best the 49ers could have hoped for. Their lack of leverage and Lance's inexperience and injury history had many thinking the Niners would be forced to settle for a late day-three pick.

That would have been tantamount to a humiliation. While giving him up for a fourth is optically still not great, it is much more useful in terms of capital in a 2024 draft in which they are scheduled to have 12 picks.

Following the trades for Lance and for Christian McCaffrey, the 49ers need those selections to load up an increasingly expensive and star-studded roster with some affordable rookie depth.

The 49ers had great aspirations for Lance way back in 2021. They never came to pass, and Kyle Shanahan will be forced to face the music after Friday's preseason finale. Yet, as long as the Niners keep winning, he and general manager John Lynch will likely continue to have carte blanche to do what they wish with the team's resources despite a huge miss on their big quarterback swing.

49ers trade QB Trey Lance to Cowboys

The former No. 3 overall pick is on the move, with the Dallas Cowboys acquiring Trey Lance from the San Francisco 49ers.

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