2021 NFL Draft: New York Jets find new franchise QB in NFL mock draft
2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, Pick 13
QB. Trey Lance. 13. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. North Dakota State. player. 28
In the actual 2021 NFL Draft next April, North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance will likely go much higher than this projection. He is a legitimate top-tier quarterback prospect who could easily land in the top five. However, he slips a bit in this mock draft to the extreme benefit of the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Raiders have done a nice job of stockpiling young talent on both sides of the ball in recent years and could become competitive in the near future. That being said, their ceiling is always going to be a bit limited with Derek Carr under center.
Carr is a solid NFL starting quarterback, but he is not a game-changing player who raises the play of his teammates. If Jon Gruden and company find an opportunity to improve at the quarterback position in the near future, they must pounce. That opportunity arises in this mock draft as Lance is available at No. 13.
Lance is a big, strong and athletic prospect who shows plenty of ability with the ball in his hands. He stands strong in the pocket, feels pressure well, can win with his legs and slings the ball all over the field with ease. He has impressive natural arm talent and legitimate accuracy to all levels of the field. Lance is a fantastic dual-threat quarterback who fits the modern game well and also does a great job of taking care of the football.
As talented as Lance is, there is still plenty of unknown to his game. Going from the FCS level to the NFL is difficult for everyone and Lance will likely be making that jump as a one-year starting quarterback.
Whoever drafts Lance must do so with a patient, long-term approach in mind. With Carr on the roster, the Raiders would be a team in a good position to bring Lance along slowly. They could let Carr remain the starting quarterback for the 2021 season and look to trade him after the season when Lance would be more ready for the NFL game.
More than anything, adding Lance to the mix would undoubtedly raise the long-term ceiling of this franchise.