2021 NFL Draft: Trey Lance’s ideal potential NFL team fit
Trey Lance’s ideal NFL team fit in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The 2021 NFL Draft is looking pretty loaded at the quarterback position, starting at the top with Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields.
Those two guys could wind up being the first and second picks in the draft, but where do some of the other players fit in beyond that? Specifically, where does North Dakota State’s Trey Lance fit in beyond that?
This is such an important question because unlike Lawrence and Fields, it looks like Lance is going to need the ideal situation to grow and mature at a pace that is proper for both he and the team overseeing that growth.
Lance has first-round talent, there’s no question about it. He had incredible production in 2019 at North Dakota State with 28 passing touchdowns and no interceptions along with 14 rushing touchdowns and over 1,000 yards on the ground.
Because of COVID-19, North Dakota State’s season was mostly shut down. They did get one game, however, a “showcase” against Central Arkansas in which Lance accounted for four touchdowns.
Even considering the fact that he accounted for four touchdowns, this was not Lance’s best day at the office, and has raised more questions about his NFL projection than it did confirm what everyone was hoping to see.
You cannot get caught up in making sweeping evaluations based on one game, but even considering how statistically impressive Lance was in 2019, there are imperfections in his game and things NFL scouts and NFL Draft fans want to see from him that we will not get a chance to see because the NDSU season was just one game.
Lance does a number of things very well. First and foremost, he has tremendous arm talent and athleticism. He makes plays with his legs both when he’s trying to avoid pressure in the pocket and on designed running plays, which will be part of the package for him at the NFL level, no doubt.
Lance also has the benefit of having run a pro-style offensive attack at North Dakota State, which has done well to combine their pro-style concepts as well as highlight Lance’s running abilities. An NFL team acquiring Lance will need to make sure that they frame the entire offense around his skills while also investing into his development as a pocket passer.
That was the area he struggled some against Central Arkansas, at least when he was faced with substantial pressure.
Because Lance is going to face that same kind of pressure in the NFL (just at a vastly different speed) it’s fair to wonder if early projections of him as a top 3-5 selection were premature.
Lance isn’t necessarily a “see it, throw it” kind of quarterback, but he certainly has to grow in terms of his ability to read coverages, go through progressions, and make proper reads with the football while also delivering timely, accurate throws.
Because of the investment of patience needed to extract the best out of Lance, one particular NFL team stands out as a great fit — the Carolina Panthers.
One of the biggest reasons for this potential fit? The Panthers have organizational stability at the moment with Matt Rhule being hired on as the head coach. He was given a long-term contract because the Panthers are expecting long-term positive results.
Rhule has proven he is the right man for the job even as the Panthers have dropped to a 3-7 record in the 2020 season.
The Panthers have given Rhule one of the great gifts not every NFL head coach or regime is afforded — time.
With Teddy Bridgewater in place, the Panthers have a quarterback who can start for them until Lance is ready. The Panthers also have an impressive arsenal of skill position players to surround Lance and make him successful.
Notably, the Panthers have one of the best offensive weapons in the entire NFL, running back Christian McCaffrey. In addition to McCaffrey, the Panthers made a shrewd move in 2020 free agency adding Robby Anderson, who has nearly 800 receiving yards so far in his debut season with Carolina.
DJ Moore has developed into one of the best and most consistent weapons at receiver in the NFL, and Curtis Samuel might get himself a second contract with the Panthers with exciting ability as both a runner and receiver.
dark. Next. 5 prospects who have boosted their 2021 stock
The Panthers’ rebuild in 2020 started off with an emphasis on defense. Literally 100 percent of their first draft class under Rhule was spent on defensive players. Now, the Panthers need a long-term plan offensively and Lance seems like a great fit as someone who could transition easily with a strong running game behind him, receivers who can make plays after the catch, and a young, talented, and growing defense.