The closer we get to the 2021 NFL draft, the more clear it’s becoming that nobody has any idea what’s going to happen after the first two picks. We can’t know exactly what the Atlanta Falcons will do without first knowing what the San Francisco 49ers will do.
It’s clear Kyle Shanahan is going to draft a quarterback, but will it be Alabama’s Mac Jones, Ohio State’s Justin Fields, or North Dakota State’s Trey Lance? While Jones has been the rumored favorite since San Francisco traded up, that smoke seems to be dying down. Fields would make just as much sense, but you may not want to rule out Lance at No. 3 either.
Appearing as a guest on San Francisco’s 95.7 The Game radio station, Jeff Kolpack, an NDSU beat reporter for Forum Communications, made it sound as if the Bison quarterback is very much in play for the 49ers at pick No. 3, and for the Falcons at pick No. 4.
“It’s almost like a stock market frenzy,” said Kolpack. “Once these quarterbacks start going, you’re not gonna want to be left out. If he doesn’t go to the 49ers, I think the Falcons, I mean, they’ve been really interested. I know they’ve talked to the Bison coaches at length on Lance.”
The Falcons sent three team reps — QB coach Charles London, passing game specialist T.J. Yates and scouting director Dwaune Jones — to Lance’s second pro day on Monday, per a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero
#Falcons QB coach Charles London, passing game specialist T.J. Yates and assistant college scouting director Dwaune Jones are expected to attend Trey Lance's second pro day today. Arthur Smith, Terry Fontenot and Dave Ragone attended the first. A lot of eyeballs on Lance for ATL. https://t.co/SSsugXx9FV
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 19, 2021
Lance played in just one game last year before sitting out due to COVID-19 concerns. In 2019, though, he completed nearly 67 percent of his passes, threw for 2,786 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and zero interceptions, while adding 1,100 yards on the ground and 14 rushing touchdowns.
There’s a lot to like with Lance, but Atlanta has other factors to consider. The salary cap is still very much an issue. Depth is a concern, and the defense is very much in need of a play-maker.
