The LA Chargers signed quarterback Trey Lance last Friday in a move that caught many off guard. The signing was even more surprising when it was revealed with a valuation of "up to $6.2 million".
As with most backup quarterbacks though, the only way Lance can make that much money is through starts and incentives. While we don't have the exact figures of the deal in front of us, newly revealed numbers put the agreement into perspective.
According to sources, Lance's contract carries a base value of $2.045 million. That's much more understandable for relative QB2/QB3 money than the full $6.2 million figure that was previously presented.
Trey Lance's contract details cement him as Chargers' third-string quarterback
Both Lance and Taylor Heinicke have similar structured contracts. With incentives, both can go as high as $6.2 million.
However, there is a difference in their base values. Heinicke at $2.5 million will get a little under $500k more in base than Lance. It doesn't eliminate a QB competition to push Heinicke by any means. But Heinicke will at least start the offseason process as Justin Herbert's primary backup considering the contractual difference in his favor.
Per source, roughly 57% of Lance's base value of $2.045 million is guaranteed. That's roughly $1.1 million in full guarantees, which probably isn't quite enough to ensure Lance a spot on the roster.
By comparison, Heinicke signed for $2 million fully guaranteed. Nearly doubling the fully guaranteed portion of Lance would also favor Heinicke's placement as primary backup.
With the 2025 NFL Draft approaching, it'll be interesting to see if the Chargers add other quarterbacks to the roster. Using a draft pick on a fourth quarterback probably isn't the smartest use of roster resources.
However, Los Angeles could still use the undrafted free-agent market. The Chargers signed unselected Canadian QB Casey Bauman in undrafted free agency last offseason.
While the Lance signing is still a polarizing topic for the fanbase, his value here won't prevent GM Joe Hortiz from getting other deals done.