The Atlanta Falcons need to find answers to their biggest roster questions in the 2026 NFL Draft. The current wide receiver room is somewhat of a question mark. The Falcons will start their draft with the No. 48 overall pick in Round 2.
Falcons Are Interested in North Dakota State WR Bryce Lance
The younger brother of Trey Lance, a former first-round pick, Bryce Lance is undoubtedly one of the fastest WRs in the 2026 NFL Draft and ran a 4.34-second 40-yard dash at the 2026 NFL Combine.
Despite losing both Darnell Mooney and KhaDarel Hodge during the offseason, the Falcons still have Drake London occupying the WR1 position. They have also acquired Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus in free agency.
In the past two seasons, Lance has recorded 2,132 yards and 25 touchdowns for the Bison. The 23-year-old speedster is projected as the 14th WR off the board, according to the PFSN Big Board.
Jordan Reid of ESPN believes Lance could be a perfect fit for the Falcons in the upcoming draft. He said, “In speaking to league sources connected to Atlanta, one position that has been heavily linked to the Falcons is defensive tackle. They have done extensive work there, but another position that routinely came up in conversation was wide receiver.
“Even after adding Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus this offseason, the Falcons want a field stretcher at some point on Day 2. Bryce Lance (North Dakota State) was a name that kept coming up.”
Investing in their offensive line is the need of the hour for the Falcons following starting RT Kaleb McGary’s retirement at the age of 31. But the wide receiver position has been a priority for new head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Lance’s 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report
According to PFSN’s Scouting Report, “Bryce Lance, the younger brother of former first-round pick Trey Lance, is one of the most compelling FCS prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
“A redshirt senior, Lance didn’t emerge until 2024, but he did so dramatically, amassing 75 catches for 1,053 yards and 17 touchdowns. In 2025, he was similarly productive, accruing 1,079 yards and eight TDs while averaging over 21 yards per catch.”
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“Lance’s advanced numbers are jaw-dropping; per TruMedia, he achieved 3.8 yards per route run, a 21.05% catch rate over expectation, and 6.7 yards of RAC per reception — over two yards more than his expected RAC. At 6’3”, 209 pounds, Lance’s primary mode is as an explosive vertical threat who can attack seams and take the top off the defense, and in the FCS, he feasted within that role.
“He still needs to improve at proactively attacking the football and controlling catch-point positioning, and inconsistent hand technique can be the source of drops, but he nonetheless has the size, speed, stemming ability, body control, and underlying quickness to earn mid-round interest as a deep threat and RAC weapon with additional upside to unearth.”
