The latest 2021 mock draft projection from ESPN’s Mel Kiper has the New England Patriots trading up into the top 10 to grab a quarterback: North Dakota State QB Trey Lance.
The latest NFL Draft projection from Kiper includes a series of trades (a rarity for him) that sees five quarterbacks come off the board in the first nine picks. In this mock, the Patriots come away with the last of the five quarterbacks in Lance.
Lance is a peculiar prospect, declaring for the draft after his NDSU team’s one-game fall season (derailed due to COVID-19). Still, Lance is a highly touted prospect with tremendous talents. Here’s what Kiper has to say about the pick.
“Lance could be (the answer),” Kiper wrote in his mock draft. “He started only 17 career games in college -- all against FCS competition -- but he’s only 20, and he has all the tools to be a great dual-threat quarterback. Remember that the Patriots have a few players returning after opting out of last season, too, so they could contend in the AFC East again.”
Lance is a small-school prospect, but he fits the physical mold of a blue-chip quarterback from an FBS powerhouse. At 6-foot-4, 226 pounds, he has ideal size for the NFL. On top of that, he’s drawn rave reviews for his accuracy, arm strength and decision making. The real question for him is whether he can make the jump from the FCS level straight to NFL competition after a shortened college career.
So how much would it take to move up to No. 9? Trade prices vary depending who’s on the board. If the Patriots are trying to get the last top-tier quarterback available, it would likely be pricey.
“The Patriots would have to send the Broncos at least the No. 15 pick, a second-round pick and a 2022 pick,” Kiper wrote. “And I wouldn’t be shocked if it took the Pats’ 2022 first-rounder to get the deal over the finish line.”
One fascinating element of Kiper’s mock draft is that he has Lance as the fifth quarterback coming off the board. As far as mock drafts go, there has been a pretty solid consensus for quarterback rankings.
1. Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence (No. 1 to the Jaguars)
2. BYU’s Zach Wilson (almost always in the top four)
3. Ohio State’s Justin Fields (a bit more varied, anywhere from No. 2 to No. 15)
4. Trey Lance (rarely falling out of the top 10)
5. Alabama’s Mac Jones (who has been projected to fall as far to the end of Round 1)
Jones was a tremendously successful player in college, but draft pundits haven’t quite been convinced about him as a prospect. He’s been a popular pick for the Patriots at No. 15 in a number of mocks.
However, the narrative is starting to turn on Jones. Earlier this week, former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum said that there was no chance that Jones would fall further than No. 8. Well, Kiper’s projection falls in line with that idea.
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- Jimmy Garoppolo rumors: John Lynch says QB will be 49ers 2021 starter if he’s healthy
- Will Julian Edelman return to Patriots in 2021? (Weekly mailbag)