For the sixth time in seven years, North Dakota State has sent one of its players to the NFL via the Draft. On Saturday afternoon, the Saints nabbed receiver Bryce Lance with the 136th overall pick in the fourth round. Lance, who played 44 games with the Bison, finished his college career with 2,157 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns.
He has consistently been one of the top FCS receivers since 2023 and helped NDSU win the 2024 national championship (the program’s tenth since becoming DI). Lance was
one of two former Bison to be invited to this year’s NFL Combine alongside his quarterback Cole Payton.
Lance will bring to the table a savviness in route running, hands and blazing speed that should serve New Orleans well and allow him to see the field sooner rather than later. He will very likely be on the 90-man roster after training camp and ought to compete quite a bit in the preseason later this year.
He is the first NDSU receiver to be drafted since 2022 when the Green Bay Packers selected Christian Watson in the second round. For North Dakota State as a program, Lance marks their tenth player since 2019 to be taken in the Draft. He is also notably the younger brother to current L.A. Chargers backup quarterback Trey Lance who was taken with the third overall pick in the 2021 Draft.
