Bryce Lance

The Player

Lance, the younger brother of Trey Lance, is a highly productive FCS receiver whose rare athletic traits and big-play profile make him an intriguing—but developmental—NFL prospect. Over his final two seasons at NDSU, he posted elite production (126 catches, 2,132 yards, 25 touchdowns) with outstanding efficiency, including a massive 3.58 yards per route run in 2025, though that came against lower-level competition. He’ll also be an older rookie at 24.

Physically, Lance is exceptional. With a tall, linear build and elite speed/explosion (4.34-second 40, 41.5-inch vertical, 11-foot-1-inch broad jump, 4.15-second shuttle), he profiles as an athlete with a rare blend of height and speed. That shows up on tape in three key areas: ball skills, run-after-the-catch ability, and vertical playmaking. He attacks the ball confidently, wins at the catch point (he has a strong contested-catch rate), and tracks deep throws well. After the catch, he transitions quickly upfield and uses acceleration and body control to navigate space, even if he’s not especially elusive or powerful. As a vertical threat, he’s particularly dangerous—he builds to top speed quickly for his size and consistently stresses defenses downfield while also contributing in the quick game.

The concerns center on his refinement and physicality. He lacks strength both as a route runner and after the catch, which limits his ability to separate through contact and break tackles. And his route running is uneven. While flashes of nuance in releases and vertical tempo are encouraging, he struggles on intermediate routes, often gearing down into breaks and failing to reaccelerate efficiently.

The Draft

Despite hailing from the small-school ranks, Lance should hear his name called by the end of Friday night’s Round 3 coverage. It’ll be interesting to see which small-school wideout over 6-foot-3 gets drafted first: Lance or Ted Hurst (Georgia State). 

The Projection

Lance is a traits-driven, high-upside prospect with proven production and explosive ability as a vertical and YAC machine, but he’ll need to add strength and significantly refine his route running to become more than a situational deep threat at the next level. He has a very similar profile to another former NDSU receiver, Christian Watson, who also offers a size-speed-explosion blend, strong YAC skills, and the ability to stretch defenses. He grades out as a rookie sub-package contributor who is gifted enough to emerge as a full-time starter down the line as he improves his strength and physicality.