Over the next four weeks WEEI.com will offer up a total of 28 prospects who could be potential Patriots selections in the 2021 NFL Draft. While the top five projected overall prospects – QB Trevor Lawrence, QB Zach Wilson, WR Ja’Marr Chase, TE Kyle Pitts and OT Penei Sewell – won’t be included, all other players at all positions will be considered potential targets for Bill Belichick and his staff. Today we look at one of the top quarterback options who might still be in range for New England.
Trey Lance
QB North Dakota State
6-4, 224
Resume: Lance was a football and basketball star at Marshall (Minnesota) High School where he finished his quarterback career with 3,026 passing yards and another 1,177 rushing yards and 51 total touchdowns. … Was not heavily recruited out of Marshall, especially at his preferred position of quarterback. Was recruited by Minnesota as a safety, but decided to go the FCS QB route at North Dakota State. … After playing just two games while red shirting as a freshman, Lance had a massive breakout season in 2019 when he led the Bison to a national title, 16-0 season. Won the Walter Payton Award as the best FCS player by throwing for 2,786 yards and 28 touchdowns with no interceptions while also rushing for 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns. … Threw for two scores and rushed for two more while also throwing his first college interception in his only game of 2020. … Led a run-heavy attack for the Bison, throwing more than 23 passes just twice in his career for an offense that averaged 18 passes and 45 runs per game. … Lance is a proven winner, having finished his college career with a 17-0 record after going 20-3 in high school. … Despite playing in just one game in 2020 due to COVID and only one season as an FCS starter, Lance passed up his final two seasons of eligibility to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft.
Pre-Draft Buzz: Lance is a true dual-threat quarterback, with a live arm and powerful, aggressive running style. … Played the game on his terms for North Dakota State, including what scouts question as a lot of one-read-and-run plays. … Limited experience with only 17 college starts, none against FBS competition. … The Ringer compares Lance to former Wyoming star and current Bills franchise QB Josh Allen. … ProFootballNetwork.com writes that Lance has “next-level physical skills and tremendous upside.” … NFL.com mocked Lance to the Falcons at No. 4 overall in its latest offering. … Another NFL.com mock writes that “Lance could go as high as No. 3 or remain available until the middle of Round 1.” … NFL.com’s profile also compares Lance to Allen, declaring “Coaches rave about his football IQ and film work. They believe he will come into the league more football savvy than most of the quarterbacks in this draft.” … Lance did drills only at his first pro day this spring.
Why Lance fits the Patriots’ needs: In case you haven’t been paying attention, the Patriots need a long term answer at the quarterback position. New England owner Robert Kraft stated as much rather emphatically during a recent conference call with the media. Lance is a true first-round wild card for the 2021 NFL Draft. He has elite potential, limited experience and may take patience to round into form as a pro. If things play out as currently expected with Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson and Mac Jones going with the top three picks, teams like the Patriots still in the market for a franchise QB will have to choose between Lance and Justin Fields. For New England to get Lance it would likely take a trade into the top-10 or maybe even the top-5.Lance clearly has the physical tools to be a potential franchise QB.
New England needs a franchise QB. Could a match be made on draft weekend?