Washington Football Team wise to be enamored with Trey Lance

The race to land a new quarterback gets hotter by the day. Just when we thought the quarterback talk may be winding down, the Washington Football Team made other plans. After the San Francisco 49ers traded up to the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, it left only one more position available to take on of the remaining top-four quarterbacks in Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Trey Lance, and Zach Wilson.

With Lawrence already locked in at the top, there are rumors Wilson will land with the New York Jets at pick two. Despite the smokescreen of Mac Jones as the third pick, a player not in the same arena as the other four, it appears likely that it will be either Fields or Lance.

However, Washington seems to think Lance is not the guy for San Francisco as they are now ready to potentially give up everything they own in order to move up and nab the North Dakota State product. After a dynamic redshirt freshman season where Lance did not throw a single interception and won the FCS equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, Lance was forced to opt out and declare as his season was pushed back until the Spring.

On his podcast “GM Shuffle,” former general manager Michael Lombardi stated that Washington has their sights set on Lance:

"“I think Washington is going to be the next team to unload all their picks to try to get a QB. I think they love Lance. I don’t think, I know Washington loves Lance. So, will they trade up to get Lance? That remains to be seen.”"

Make no mistake, however, Lance has the physical tools on par with Lawrence, and may actually have the most upside of any quarterback in this class. Washington is wise to set their sights on the 20 year old quarterback.

Washington Football Team a great landing spot for Lance

There has not been a better quarterback besides maybe Josh McCown over the years to lead younger players towards success than Ryan Fitzpatrick. Given that Lance is coming from one year as a starter at the FCS level and making the jump to the NFL level, having a guy like Fitzpatrick makes for an ideal landing spot.

With most of Lance’s experience coming from a gap/power scheme in college, this is the ideal prototype to be a pseudo-Cam Newton for Washington. Scott Turner, the offensive coordinator in Washington, was the quarterback’s coach for two years under Rivera with the Carolina Panthers as well. It seems likely the Atlanta Falcons are fielding a bidding war for the fourth overall pick, likely for the fourth of those quarterbacks.

Washington must have the understanding that Lance will not be the pick made by the San Francisco 49ers at three, and will now seek the opportunity to potentially mortgage their future in order to land a new franchise quarterback. Could we see four quarterbacks in four picks for the first time ever? It is beginning to seem quite likely.