The Los Angeles Chargers might be the last house on the block for former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance, as it might be next to impossible for him to find anyone who will take him on as a quarterback in this league if he fails to impress Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman.
Lance, who recently signed a one-year contract with the team after an uninspiring two-season stint in Dallas, will compete with veteran Taylor Heinicke for the backup quarterback job. Lance's athleticism will need to win out against a more traditional pocket passer like Heinicke.
Lance may have picked a great spot for his skill set, as Roman has a history of working with mobile quarterbacks despite having to retrofit his offense to take advantage of Justin Herbert. If he is forced to get in a game, there's a distinct possibility that Lance could thrive with this playbook.
However, Lance could seal his NFL doom with this pick. If Roman believes he isn't an NFL quarterback, there may be no team in the league who is willing to bring him in. Time will tell if Lance validates this decision or makes the Chargers look foolish.
Chargers may be last NFL stop for former top pick Trey Lance
Lance, who has not thrown a touchdown pass since 2021 and famously tossed five interceptions in a preseason start last year, is on an NFL roster entirely due to his athletic potential. When paired with a strong arm, it's easy to see why the Chargers might want to work with him.
Roman's run-heavy offenses have become a haven for mobile quarterbacks, as he helped jump-start the careers of names like Colin Kaepernick, Tyrod Taylor, and MVP Lamar Jackson. Lance could slot in nicely, assuming that he makes some sort of improvements with regard to his mechanics and accuracy.
If Lance stumbles under Roman, it might be time to reignite that Saskatchewan Roughriders interest. No OC across the league is going to create an offense that plays to Lance's strengths like Roman, and no one will be interested in signing a quarterback based on the hype from 2019 North Dakota State film.
Lance could be an intriguing long-term backup for Herbert, but the possibility of him crashing and burning is equally viable.