This offseason has been an absolute whirlwind for the Panthers. Following the departure of Cam Newton, the team is searching for a long-term replacement who can get the franchise back on track. Time will tell if that will be Teddy Bridgewater or if they will take a chance on one of the highly touted quarterbacks of the 2021 NFL draft class.
North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance was recently mocked to the Panthers at No. 5 overall in the Pro Football Focus preseason 2021 mock draft. Let’s take a look at what makes Lance such an intriguing option for Carolina’s future.
Profile:
Lance is listed at 6-foot-4, 226 pounds. He has a unique blend of size, arm strength, mobility, and accuracy. In 2019, he put up one of the most ridiculous stat lines you will ever see for a college quarterback. In his first year as a starter, Lance passed for 2,786 yards and 28 touchdowns while rushing for 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns.
However, the most impressive thing about his 2019 campaign is that he did not throw a single interception all year. Now, surely you have to take in account that North Dakota State does not play top notch competition, but no interceptions in 16 games (including the FCS playoffs) is an incredible feat no matter the competition. If anything, it shows how much Lance matured in his film study and decision making over the course of his sophomore year. Lance has all the tools in the world to become the best quarterback in the country, but not having a chance to prove he can do it again in 2020 could hurt his draft stock.
How he compares:
The consensus top two quarterbacks in the 2021 class are currently Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields. Lawrence and Fields are usually at the top of most big boards and barring any injuries they will still be there by next year’s draft. Lance on the other hand will need another strong season to pass either of them. That is why not playing in 2020 could hurt Lance more than Fields or Lawrence. However, the one thing that shines a glimmer of hope for Lance is that he is an electrifying playmaker with his arm and legs.
In today’s NFL, teams are looking for game-changing playmakers like Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes to draw mismatches. Don’t get me wrong, Lawrence and Fields are tremendous quarterbacks who should have a tremendous amount of success in the league, but they simply don’t scream “electrifying playmaker“ like Lance is. Let’s watch his college highlights.
Highlights:
Lance vs. WIU
Lance vs. Butler
Lance vs. South Dakota State
Lance vs. James Madison
Lance vs. Delaware
Lance’s film speaks for itself and anyone who watches him knows he is something special. A quarterback-hungry team will absolutely take a chance on him inside the top-15 based on his 2019 season alone, but NFL teams are becoming more willing to take chances on high upside players because they simply want playmakers. Don’t be shocked if Lance is the first quarterback off the board come 2021.
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