4 boom-or-bust prospects the Panthers might gamble on in 2021
By Dean Jones
Trey Lance – QB (North Dakota State)
There isn’t a prospect entering the draft with more intrigue than Trey Lance. The North Dakota State standout played just one game in 2020 due to COVID-19 that didn’t exactly see the quarterback shine. But an exceptional display of throwing prowess at his pro day now has him in contention to be a top-five pick when it’s all said and done.
Granted, Lance does not have the big-game experience of Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields. However, his intangibles are off the charts and if he somehow falls to the Carolina Panthers at No. 8, it will be a hard opportunity to pass up.
Anyone expecting Lance to come in and produce big numbers from the word go will be out of luck. The signal-caller will need some time to acclimatize to a professional environment and this is why he’s in play for the San Francisco 49ers at No. 3, who have a proven veteran in Jimmy Garroppolo to learn from before eventually taking over the reins.
Carolina could also offer this with Teddy Bridgewater still on the roster. But there is a chance of Lance becoming the latest highly-touted quarterback with a big arm and little in the way of real competition at the college level that simply doesn’t work out.
The Panthers may want to keep that in mind before they think about giving up additional selections if Lance falls out of the top-four.