Brock Purdy still wishes the best for Trey Lance
Lance, the third overall pick in 2021, lasted through training camp in 2023 before the Cowboys unwisely sent a fourth-round pick to the 49ers for him.
'It's tough, because Trey and I are tight, dude,' Purdy said during a recent appearance on the Bussin' With The Boys podcast, via David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com. 'Absolutely, we're boys, and we're bros.'
Purdy is firmly entrenched as the 49ers' franchise quarterback, having signed a five-year, $265 million extension with the team. Lance already is on his third team, having left the Cowboys to sign a one-year, $2 million deal with the Chargers to back up Justin Herbert.
Lance's career has not gone how anyone expected.
'I wanted nothing but the best for him, and I know he wanted that for me,' Purdy said. 'But that's just how this business goes and all that. When it did happen, we're about to play our preseason game against the Chargers, and right before the game, they announced [the trade of Lance to the Cowboys], and I didn't really know how to act or what to think. I was just like, 'Man, I hope he can go to Dallas and compete and have a great opportunity.''
Purdy said he and Lance have never discussed exactly how everything went down, but nothing has changed about Purdy's feelings about Lance.
'We've just texted each other, like, 'Hey, dude, hope you're doing good,' like, randomly throughout the season, offseason, or whatever. 'Hope you're doing good,' this and that. It's really just been that,' Purdy said. 'We haven't really gotten to the details of, 'Hey, how do you feel with this happening?' or whatever. We just stay away from that.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
Jimmy Johnson says Cowboys' 'Top-heavy' roster must avoid injuries in 2025
Citing a top-heavy roster, Johnson says Dallas must stay healthy to contend. Last season saw Dallas experience several obstacles, but none likely bigger than the injury bug, which most notably hit quarterback Dak Prescott last November with a hamstring injury that landed the Pro Bowl signal caller on injured reserve, leading Johnson to make his first and most obvious key for Dallas to return to its winning ways: health. "The biggest thing for the Cowboys, it's a big thing for any team, is to stay healthy,' Jimmy Johnson told 'I think it's probably more important for the Cowboys to stay healthy for a couple reasons. No. 1, they're top-heavy salary wise. And so, their 53-man roster may not be quite as talented at the bottom as some of these other teams." Entering its 66th season as a franchise, the Cowboys have not won a world title since the Johnson-built dynasty of the 1990s. The current team is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 7-10 finish in 2024. The Hall of Fame offered his insight and identified the key factor that must unfold for the Cowboys to bounce back in what has become a more competitive NFC East. Dallas has committed a significant amount of money recently, primarily to Prescott ($60 million per season), All-Pro CeeDee Lamb ($34 million per season), Pro Bowler Trevon Diggs ($19.4 million per season), and star defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa ($20 million per season). Micah Parsons, who is seeking a long term extension ahead of the 2025 season awaits his turn. While the health of star talent will be a key factor, another point of emphasis regarding health that Johnson noted is the late gauntlet stretch of the team's season. Dallas, between weeks 12 and 17, will face off against six playoff teams from the previous year. All six teams (Eagles, Chiefs, Lions, Vikings, Chargers, and Commanders) have playoff expectations in 2025, with some even being considered contenders, and four of them won 14 or more games the year before. Meaning all hands will need to be on deck for this historic stretch. "The other thing is, they have a very difficult stretch there toward the end of the season," Johnson added. "So, if they're not at full strength when they're playing those top teams – the second half of at the end of the season, it's going to be a problem. So, staying healthy is the No. 1 key." For seven decades, Johnson was deeply involved in the game of football, carving out a Hall of Fame career. As a player, he helped the University of Arkansas win the 1964 national championship. As a coach, he won multiple titles, including back-to-back Super Bowls, and from 2002 to 2025, helped entertain millions as part of Fox Sports' coverage of the NFL. With a new season approaching, Johnson for the first time since his youth, won't be involved in football. The legendary coach, announced his retirement from broadcasting following the 2024 NFL season and is now enjoying his post football career down in Florida and in his restaurant Jimmy Johnson's Big Chill. While Johnson might be relaxing on the water, football will never be far out of reach for the man who won a pair of world titles with the Dallas Cowboys. Johnson, who was inducted into the Cowboys' ring of honor during the 2023 season, put his mark on a franchise that was in the cellar when he was brought along in 1989 after coaching the University of Miami to a national championship. His former Arkansas teammate, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, handed him the keys with confidence to the football operations side to help steer the team back in the right direction, and just five years later, the Cowboys would lift the Lombardi trophy in back-to-back years between 1992 and 1993. Now in 2025, Jones is hoping that first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer can help the team reach that same level. While the hiring of Schottenheimer surprised many, the 51-year-old head coach, who is the son of the great Marty Schottenheimer, has Johnson's full vote of confidence ahead of the new season. "Well, I knew his dad, Marty a long time ago when I was coaching Oklahoma State," Johnson recalled. "Marty was with Cleveland and came down to visit with one our players. He ended up drafting Chris Rockins (second round, 1984). But I've known Marty for years. "Later on, Brian was working in Jacksonville. Urban Meyer had me fly down and visit with their staff about drafting players, and schedules, etc. I talked to Brian some there in Jacksonville. I think he's enthusiastic and is an outstanding coach. I think he'll do a really good job with the Cowboys." The Cowboys will begin training camp on Monday and, in less than 50 days, will kick off the Schottenheimer era on Thursday, September 4, when the team visits the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles for the 2025 NFL season opener. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
USA Today
7 hours ago
- USA Today
Ranking all position groups, Cowboys have $127 million in cap spending across in top 3
Dallas did a lot more than it typically does during this most recent offseason. They added a 10-sack veteran defensive end, traded for multiple starting defenders, and added depth to the offensive line and defensive front seven. The Cowboys roster will be outstanding if healthy, with six All-Pros along with Osa Odighizuwa, DeMarvion Overshown, and Cooper Beebe as players who tht kind of potential. Still, the Cowboys have never been able to put together a complete roster like the Philadelphia Eagles or San Francisco 49ers have had over the last few years. While some position groups are spectacular, others have holes in need of step ups. Here are the rankings of Cowboys positions from best to worst. Defensive Ends The edge rushers top the list with Micah Parsons being the superstar supplemented by another double-digit sack artist in Dante Fowler Jr. Three second-round options in Marshand Kneeland, Sam Williams and the recently signed 2025 pick Donovan Ezeiruaku on rookie deals with loads of potential. Dallas has $40 million on the offseason books at the edge. Wide receivers The wideouts rank second, and like defensive end, superstar CeeDee Lamb elevates the entire position. He is paired with a genuine freak show outside receiver in George Pickens, and they combine to be one of the top duos in the NFL. The depth behind them is limited but includes a former second-round pick who has never had quality quarterback play and a speed option who has made a ton of plays on limited touches. Dallas has $35 million on the offseason books at the edge. Quarterbacks Dak Prescott had a down year and another injury, but he was second in MVP voting and an All-Pro in 2023. They finally have a backup with a ton of potential to work after trading for Joe Milton and Will Grier as a veteran QB to try and replicate Cooper Rush's past success. Dallas has $52.5 million on the offseason books at the edge. Linebackers This position has a ton of talent and potential. They are being paired with the top linebacker developer in the NFL, Matt Eberflus, so they should reach their full potential for Dallas. Overshown was voted a top 10 linebacker, but he will be out most of the year. Kenneth Murray, Jack Sanborn, and Marist Liufau all need to step up until he returns, and they all possess the raw talent to do so when channeled correctly. Offensive line Dallas has one of the best interior groups in the league with All-Pro Tyler Smith, first-round pick Tyler Booker, and second-year center Beebe. But the OL isn't in the top three because their tackle play was atrocious in 2024. Terence Steele could bounce back after struggling under former offensive line coach Mike Solari, and Tyler Guyton has the traits to be an excellent left tackle, but he needs to be stronger mentally. They have good depth with Brock Hoffman, T.J. Bass, Robert Jones, and Asim Richards. Tight ends Jake Ferguson had a down season, but injuries to himself and the quarterback were a significant factor in that. Brevyn Spann-Ford is a 6-foot-7, 280-pound blocking option. John Stephens Jr., Rivaldo Fairweather, and Tyler Neville are young players who could stretch the field, and Luke Schoonmaker took a significant jump from his rookie year. The position isn't higher because it's more potential than substance, thus far in their careers. Cornerbacks The corners would be higher, but injuries significantly reduce the ranking. If it's Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland, Shavon Revel Jr., Josh Butler, and Kaiir Elam with Caelen Carson and Israel Mukuamu as the depth guys, they could be as high as third in these rankings. Where the team stands going into the season is too unknown to put them higher. Running backs Some rankings would have running backs last, but Dallas has figured out the correct way to build the room: acquire cheap veterans and utilize the draft to build out the unit. Looking around the league at how many Day 3 draft picks produce as rookies, Jaydon Blue could do a good job as an explosive runner who can catch the ball. Javonte Williams is young enough to bounce back from injury, and with another year of healing, a better offensive line, and coaching staff, the unit should improve overall as well. Safety Safety is challenging because while many teams would consider starting one of Donovan Wilson, Malik Hooker, Juanyeh Thomas, or Markquese Bell, none of them would be viewed as impactful defenders who could significantly improve a defense. The Cowboys have multiple competent safety options, but no impactful ones. Defensive tackle DT is the worst position on the team, even though Odighizuwa is a top-five pressure player at the position. The issue is that he is a poor run defender, and the team has no quality options to play next to him. Mazi Smith hasn't shown that ability to this point, Jay Toia is a seventh-round rookie at a position that typically takes a few seasons for players to develop, and Solomon Thomas is a more minor player like Odighizuwa, who isn't great as a pass rusher or a run defender. This is the only position where the team has one high-quality starter, and everything else is unknown. You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or on YouTube at Across the Cowboys podcast
USA Today
8 hours ago
- USA Today
One ridiculous stat perfectly highlights Christian McCaffrey's dominance
A rough 2024 season that featured a pair of injuries has put San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey somewhat in the national rearview entering the 2025 season. However, a stat posted by the 33rd Team helps highlight just how good McCaffrey is when healthy, and provides optimism for the 49ers about their 29-year-old RB as they gear up for training camp. Last season McCaffrey played in only four games because of Achilles tendinitis and a knee injury that ultimately sidelined him for the season. In four games he managed only 348 total yards and no touchdowns. The down year pushed the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year all the way down to No. 73 on the NFL's Top 100 list for 2025. The 33rd Team pointed out that despite a down year in 2024, the larger sample size tells us McCaffrey is still one of the best dual-threat RBs in the sport: This is exactly why the 49ers have and will continue to lean on McCaffrey as long as he's able to suit up for them. His skill set as a runner is good, but it's his receiving prowess that separates him from the rest of the NFL. He's excellent both out of the backfield and when lining up in the slot. The danger he presents defenses forces them to dedicate additional resources to ensuring he's not getting wide open for easy throws and big runs after the catch. That threat gives head coach Kyle Shanahan additional avenues to expose weaknesses in a defense either with McCaffrey or with a player finding space opened because of the RB. It's risky banking on a 29-year-old RB coming off an injury-riddled season. McCaffrey's stats with San Francisco help paint a picture of why the potential reward is worth that risk. More 49ers: 49ers injury designations give disgruntled WR more leverage in contract talks
