2021 NFL Draft: First-Round mock draft using Madden 20 sim for draft order

The New England Patriots have not picked this high in the NFL Draft since they took Richard Seymour with the sixth overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft. Tom Brady went on to lead the Pats to a Super Bowl championship the following season and the rest was history.

Now that Brady has moved on, the Patriots suddenly have a shaky quarterback situation. Jarrett Stidham was long assumed to be the starter for the 2020 season, but the recent signing of Cam Newton certainly changes things a bit. Newton undoubtedly raises the ceiling of the 2020 Patriots, but an ugly season is certainly possible. In this Madden simulation, Newton and the Pats limped to a 6-10 record, which is why they are picking sixth in this 2021 NFL Draft scenario.

If the Patriots actually find themselves picking this high in the 2021 NFL Draft, they simply cannot ignore the quarterback situation. Whether they would bring back Newton on a short-term deal or not, finding a potential long-term franchise quarterback would be of the utmost importance. Here, Trey Lance is available and undoubtedly makes a ton of sense for this team.

Last season, Lance was a redshirt freshman who lit the FCS world on fire with his play. The North Dakota State signal-caller completed 66.9% of his passes for 2,786 yards and 28 touchdowns, all without throwing a single interception. Lance also carried the ball 169 times for 1,100 yards (6.5 yards per carry average) and 14 touchdowns.

This guy absolutely dominated his level of competition and was the easy choice to take home the Walter Payton Award for the most outstanding offensive player at the FCS level (basically, the FCS Heisman).

Lance dominating like that at such a young age will obviously command a lot of attention and his on-field skills back up his video game-like numbers. Lance is a smart and polished passer who shows impressive pocket awareness and tremendous mobility all over the field. He is an explosive and powerful runner who will be a fantastic weapon with the ball in his hands at the next level.

Lance also showcases a strong arm and consistently throws a beautiful deep ball. He is accurate in the short-to-intermediate range and does a great job of fitting the ball into tight spaces when needed.

There are concerns about the level of Lance’s college competition. Will he really be ready to take on NFL defenses after playing against FCS defenses? Only time will tell. One thing is for sure, Lance is an incredibly talented quarterback who has massive upside at the next level. Snagging him at No. 6 in the 2021 NFL Draft would be an ideal scenario for the Pats.