Is Trey Lance the Lions’ long-term answer at quarterback?
By Robert Jones
One NFL Network analyst is a believer
This is where North Dakota comes in. The Lions have the seventh overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft this April. Could the Bison hold the answer to Detroit’s future at quarterback? Possibly.
In a draft that holds as many as five possible elite quarterbacks to choose from and all of which have been mocked to be selected within the top 10 at one point or another, it seems that the Lions could find their future passer if they are so inclined.
On Friday Holmes and Campbell were getting a front-row seat to see North Dakota State’s Trey Lance show off his abilities.
Lance has been projected to be going anywhere from second overall to finally being selected with the 15th pick in one mock. He may have as much upside as Trever Lawrence who is expected to be the first player chosen, but he could also be the latest in a long line of potential superstar passers to get the early call and never come close to living up to their potential.
The NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah seems to be sold on him. Jeremiah compared Lance to former NFL standout Steve McNair.
"“I was around McNair late in his career with the Ravens and just the physicality that [Lance] plays with, the toughness. He’s got a little room to grow in terms of just pure accuracy.”"
Trey lance is big, strong, fast, and has a rocket launcher for an arm. An arm that is fully capable of challenging the Lions former incumbent quarterback and soon-to-be Los Angeles Rams signal-caller, Matthew Stafford.
But Lance still has work to do. He’s a mere 20-year-old boy venturing into a man’s game. We need to remember that Lance was a starter for only one season at North Dakota State and made only one appearance this past year.
That’s not a lot to judge a player on. So while the athleticism is certainly there and Randy Hedberg, Lance’s position coach at North Dakota State and a former NFL quarterback himself, believes that Trey has the leadership and intelligence to become an NFL standout, there is still a big step up between facing the James Madison Dukes and the Green Bay Packers.