2026 NFL Draft Profile: North Dakota State wide receiver Bryce Lance

He checks a lot of the boxes Head Coach Sean Payton covets at the position. Not only that, but I also believe he has the ability to be an explosive X receiver at the next level. Let’s do a deep dive regarding his strengths and weaknesses, and why and when the Broncos should consider selection him in this year’s draft.

Player Profile: Bryce Lance — Wide Receiver — North Dakota State

Height: 6’3” | Weight: 204 pounds | Arm Length: 32-1/8” | Hand Size: 9-1/4” | Age: 23 Years Old

40-Yard Dash: 4.34 seconds | 10-Yard Split: 1.49 seconds | 3-Cone Drill: 7 seconds

Vertical: 41.5” | Broad Jump: 11’1” | 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.15 seconds

Statistics: 57 games played, 26 starts, 127 receptions with 2,157 receiving yards. 25 receiving touchdowns, as well as 121 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Film Room & Highlights

Hart’s Scouting Report

Positives:

• Good size and frame to handle being an X receiver on the outside in the NFL
• Elite athlete who has top-tier speed and vertical playmaking ability
• One of the most productive wide receivers in college football the past two seasons with a penchant for touchdowns and big-time plays that move the chains
• Incredible ball tracker down the field with a knack for coming down with highlight reel catches in the endzone, much like Sutton
• Amongst the best in this class most with respect to efficiency on outs, posts, corners, screens, and nine routes
• Top-notch hops and strong hands who routinely comes down with contested catches
• Ample special teams experience serving primarily in that fashion for the Bison in 2022 and 2023 after his redshirt season

Negatives:

• Despite tremendous downfield speed, he doesn’t sport much short area quickness
• Will likely need to add some strength and weight to handle the rigors of the next level
• Route refining and release at the line of scrimmage will need some work to take on NFL caliber talent
• Doesn’t have a lot of drops, but would like to see better catching technique, too often body catching instead of extending out and plucking from the air

Hart’s Projection: Top 75 Selection — Late Second Round, Early Third Round Value

Why the Denver Broncos should consider drafting Lance

After a quiet start to their free agency period, the Broncos took the NFL and media waves by storm acquiring Waddle for their first and third round picks in this year’s draft. It’s safe to say it is no longer a primary need for the team. However, it’s certainly a position where a long-term vision may come into focus during this year’s draft endeavors.

Do I think the Broncos will use their top selection in this year’s draft on another wide receiver? No. Do I believe they should be interest in a player with Lance’s skillset, upside and ability? Absolutely. Sutton has been a good wide receiver for the franchise for years. In fact, I think he is a player underappreciated by most of the fan base. Nevertheless, it’s a possibility, especially if he has a drop in production this season, that Denver could move on from him at the end of this season. His 2027 cap hit is just over $28 million dollars.

Lance has some work to do transitioning from the FCS to NFL, but his elite athleticism and playmaking ability are enticing. He is arguably this draft’s best deep ball receiver and sported over 20 yards per reception this past season. That’s an area where Denver struggled with during their ‘25, especially Troy Franklin, whose deep ball tracking and contested catch ability are subpar.

He checks a lot of boxes, and I believe is a player the Broncos’ brass will think highly of. Whether or not that results in them drafting him is an entirely different matter. They certainly have bigger needs, though I think the Bison standout is a great fit for Denver’s offense and boasts the potential to be Sutton’s heir at the X position.

I have Lance ranked as a Top 75 player with a late-second round, early third-round grade. The Broncos are scheduled to pick at 62 overall, which may be a bit too early for him. Perhaps in a trade down scenario, the odds could pick up a bit. Overall, I love the fit, but it seems unlikely the FCS superstar ends up sporting a Broncos’ cap on draft day.