2021 NFL Draft: Bears land top pick in preseason 2021 NFL mock draft
By Kyle Edmond
2021 NFL Draft Round 1, Pick 8 (Carolina Panthers, 4-12)
Scouting Report. North Dakota State. Trey Lance. 8. player. Pick Analysis. Quarterback. 87
I’m in the minority of being one of the people that thinks Teddy Bridgewater will work well in Carolina. He was 11-5 and made the Pro Bowl his one full season as the starter in Minnesota.
However, between injury concerns for Bridgewater and the other holes on the team, it will be difficult for the Panthers to escape the top 10 picks of the 2021 NFL Draft. So, when they end up in the top 10 again, they have to take a quarterback if the opportunity presents itself, despite having other needs as well.
At 6-foot-3, 221, Lance is essentially a bigger version of Bridgewater, having dual-threat ability. Last season he threw 28 touchdowns and didn’t throw an interception, despite throwing 287 passes on the year.
For North Dakota State, Lance totaled 2,786 passing yards and 1,100 rushing yards, pegging him as one the top prospects to watch entering the 2020 season before everything broke loose with the pandemic.
Given his stats and the Panthers’ quest to rebuild and rebrand, Lance fits the style that Carolina is looking for and could even sit behind Bridgewater if needed to bring him up to NFL speed. If the Panthers have the opportunity to take Lance in the back end of the top 10, they should pounce on him.