Despite the fact the Los Angeles Chargers already had a backup quarterback behind Justin Herbert, Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz believed that former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Trey Lance is the type of signing they needed to make right before the start of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Lance agreed to sign a one-year contract worth up to $6.2 million. The expectation is that Lance will compete with Taylor Heinicke for LA's backup job behind Herbert. This contract, one of the biggest LA handed out this offseason, is looking even more puzzling the more one thinks about it.
Lance's signing comes right after the Chargers were unable to retain starting defensive tackle Poona Ford, who left the team to join a local rival in the Los Angeles Rams. Hortiz can't cry poor after the Lance signing, though he does look a bit questionable.
Instead of allocating the money that would have gone to a new Ford contract on a player who had consistently been one of the best players on the team last season, they gave that contract to a bust quarterback who hasn't thrown a touchdown pass since the 2021 season to start the season as a healthy scratch.
Chargers signing Trey Lance after losing Poona Ford looks unusual
Lance's entire value throughout his professional career has been his potential, though every year in which he failed to either win a starting job or show why he is a high-end backup is helping shrink that vast reservoir of enticing untapped skill.
Lance hasn't thrown a touchdown in years, has some serious injury problems, and has been one of the more turnover-prone quarterbacks that has seen some extended action in the league. Heinicke is by no means a particularly amazing quarterback, but his recent history suggests he will be a better passer than Lance.
The Chargers are in a very precarious situation on their defensive line after losing Ford and Joey Bosa in the offseason, and the fact they doubled down on the quarterback spot when it wasn't as much of a pressing need shows that Hortiz's priorities may not be up to date.