Bryce Lance NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for New Orleans Saints WR

The New Orleans Saints selected North Dakota State WR Bryce Lance with the No. 136 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

Bryce Lance is an explosive, vertical matchup receiver with potential starter traits. He displays dynamism, top-end speed and outstanding ball tracking ability. He is also the younger brother of former top-five NFL draft pick and current Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Trey Lance.

Lance enrolled at North Dakota State as a former 3-star recruit in the 2021 class. He posted big numbers for the Bison over the last two seasons, accounting for 2,150 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns.

Dame Parson is the lead host of the Locked On NFL Draft podcast. He also serves as co-host of the Scouting Room NFL Podcast alongside Daniel Harms.

Highlights

Bryce Lance Highlights

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Where He Wins

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- Takes the top off defenses thanks to explosive top-end speed and instantaneous acceleration early in the route. Equipped with a long stride to pull away from man coverage.

- Elite ball-tracking on deep pass attempts. He makes adjustments on 50-50 and back-shoulder throws with outstanding body control.

- QB-friendly target with great catch radius. He will pluck passes out of the air with strong, dependable hands.

- Hard and violent jab steps to freeze defensive backs at the line of scrimmage.

- Flashes hesitations and head fakes against cornerbacks, giving cushion to quickly clear and stack them vertically.

Areas of Improvement

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- Thin and lean frame, may need to add bulk to reach his ceiling.

- Improving play-strength can lead to being more effective when hand-fighting against bump-and0run corners. Physical defensive backs can wash him to the sideline, limiting space to work.

- Needs more refined and nuanced releases.

- Willing run-blocker but lacks sustainability.

- At NDSU, he was clearly the best athlete on the field. Expect an adjustment upon facing a higher level of competition.

- Lacks a deep hip-sink on curls and comeback routes, tends to provide indicators to veteran defensive backs.

Grade, Rank, and Pro Comparison

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GRADE: 6.69 (Role Player/Part-Time Contributor — 4th Round)

COMPARABLE GRADE: Xavier Hutchinson (6.6 in 2023), Kayshon Boutte (6.6 in 2023), Trey Palmer (6.7 in 2023)

OVERALL RANK: 151

POSITION RANK: WR22

PRO COMPARISON: Christian Watson

Measurables and Testing Data

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Height: 6'3"
Weight: 204
Hand: 9¼"
Arm: 32⅛"
Wingspan: 79½"

40-Yard Dash: 4.34"
Vertical: 41.5"
Broad: 11'1"
3-Cone Drill: 7 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.15 seconds
Bench Press: N/A