Zero or one? You choose the more impressive number.
When a quarterback is judged by wins and losses, there is no top spot in Trey Lance’s 17-0 record in the state of North Dakota. If wins belong to the team, one interception in 318 career passes speaks to individual talent.
When NFL scouts and executives evaluate college quarterbacks, two of the most important questions asked are: is he a winner? Does he take care of the ball? Lance was flawless and nearly perfect at checking those respective boxes, and now he’ll be showcasing his other skills Friday at North Dakota State Pro Day – in front of a contingent that includes Jets general manager Joe Douglas.
“Just 17 games as a starter is hard to get around and the level of competition hasn’t been great,” ESPN design analyst Matt Miller told The Post. “But I thought he’d made everyone on the field better when he was out there. I love that about his game. “
Lance is one of five quarterbacks who could be taken within the first 15 picks of the 2021 NFL Draft. He’s been allied with the Falcons, Panthers, Broncos, 49ers and Patriots and could be a viable option for the Jets, especially if they trade back from No. 2.
Outside of suspected No. 1 choice Trevor Lawrence, Lance could be the greenest, most athletic, and have the highest long-term ceiling in the group. In other words, he needs the most projective scouting, patience and quality coaching.
“I could see that Bill Belichick was having a lot of fun with a guy like Trey Lance,” said NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah. “The only thing that could stop me from doing that is that I don’t know if he’ll be ready right away. But when you talk to the folks in the state of North Dakota, this kid is incredibly intelligent, who we know the patriots have always put a premium on. “
Lance red-shirted in 2018, won an FCS national championship in 2019, and played in one game in the fall before the state of North Dakota moved its football season to spring. He went to the NFL Draft instead of returning to school and potentially becoming the # 1 overall pick in 2022.
The lack of experience suggests that his next team may need to install a “Lance package” for specialized use as a rookie. Lance is compared to Lamar Jackson by Miller and Steve McNair by Jeremiah.
“He’s not as fast as Lamar,” Miller said, “but when you think about how he can be used in the beginning – deep ball passing, use him as a runner and under drag routes where he can extend the pocket and hold things. open longer, I think he can excel that way. “
All eyes will be on Lance’s 40-meter dash time, which is expected to be recorded in the elite 4.5-second range. Where Jackson runs at speed, Lance has strength, just like McNair.
“He would be hit by a linebacker at the 4-yard line and make his way to the end zone – and you see the same thing with Trey Lance,” said Jeremiah. “Both boys came from a lower level of competition, both boys were dominant at that level. You look at the power arms to be able to drive the football across the field. You look at guys that their teammates are really all about [them]I just think there are a lot of similarities between the two. “