Bryce Lance, WR, NDSU Bison: 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report plus pro comp

The less famous of the Lance brothers, second to former 3rd overall selection quarterback Trey Lance, the younger Bryce Lance just capped off an impressive career with FCS North Dakota State. He won't be taken nearly as highly as the elder Lance, but he holds his own as a mainstream 2026 NFL Draft prospect at the wide receiver position.

A lanky outside receiver, Lance began tenure with the Bison as a freshman in 2021, taking a redshirt after failing to see time in a game. The following two seasons were extremely quiet, with just 1 catch for 7 yards, but he absolutely took off from there. He amassed 126 receptions for over 2,100 yards and 25 touchdowns from 2024-25, solidifying himself as a top FCS WR and small school draft prospect.

Bryce Lance NFL Draft Profile:

Position: Wide Receiver

School: NDSU Bison

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 209 pounds

Hometown: Marshall, MN

Statistics:

2025: 51 Receptions, 1,079 Yards, 8 TDs, 4 Carries, 92 Yards, 1 TD

Career: 127 Receptions, 2,139 Yards, 25 TDs, 9 Carries, 121 Yards, 2 TDs

Strengths:

Solid acceleration on multi-cut routes has the speed to generate space downfield

Glides downfield through his releases, especially when given space at the line

Solid YAC guy, transitions well to a ball carrier, and doesn’t waste much time before working upfield

Good knowledge of the sideline as both a route runner and ball carrier gives him the space to work through catches and maximize yardage

Very “straight to it” release package, attacks where he needs to go immediately, and won’t spend time with drawn-out releases

Identifies space when plays are longer developing, is quick to attack the open field, and makes himself available

Good combination of zone feel and body control, does well to put himself in as much open space as possible

Tracks the ball consistently deep downfield, extends to haul in throws at a high clip

Keeps himself decently aware of surroundings when moving laterally, will avoid contact, and maintain his momentum

Impressive sideline footwork on a number of different catch points

Speed can really kill defenders vertically when he works through his base and takes advantage of early leverage wins

Uses his length well to engage with defenders from a distance as a downfield blocker

Weaknesses:

Hips drag a bit on downfield cuts, is susceptible to physicality at the top of his routes, and doesn’t generate extra situations when making said compact movements

Will telegraph his sitdown routes too much, needs to use more force to slow down his larger frame

FCS level of play needs to be noted, always extra question marks with prospects from smaller schools

Relies on his shoulders too often when working against physicality, both at the line and during his routes. Stronger defenders will control him more easily

Overall footwork, especially in his releases, isn’t very sudden, and he won’t create wins off deception alone

Too lanky to be a true physical blocker on the outside

Sits too far back into his base on crossing routes, won’t be able to extend and reel in passes further away from his frame

Overall route tree isn’t incredibly defined and will be limited to his role

Unenthusiastic fade route runner, his size isn’t a factor in the redzone because of a lack of quick movements at the line

Will be 25 years old at the beginning of his rookie season

NFL Outlook:

Lance isn’t necessarily a one-dimensional wideout, but he’s not too far from it. His release package concerns some movement limitations at his size, and an unrefined total route tree limits how complete a player he will be at the next level. He could get lost in roster shuffles, like many late-round WRs before him, but I’m confident there’s a role for him to play at the next level. He can impact the game as an X Receiver by both stretching the field and in red zone situations, and he can become a valuable rotational piece with the ability to generate some big plays.

NFL Player Comparison:

His 2022 campaign with over 800 yards might be a bit unrealistic as a future projection for Lance, but he shares many of the same traits as former Cleveland Browns wideout Donovan Peoples-Jones. The Michigan product, who finished his 4-year career with 15.5 yards per catch, was similar to Lance in being a field-stretcher, and proved to be a productive target for a few years. If Lance can find himself in a system that plays to his strengths, his likely Day 3 selection could hold some decent value, much like Peoples-Jones, who was selected in the 6th round of the 2020 draft.

Prospect Grade:

Late 4th Round