As the Kansas City Chiefs look to build a championship-caliber receiving corps for the long term, finding value in the later rounds of the draft will be crucial. One name emerging as a fascinating fit for 2026 is North Dakota State wide receiver Bryce Lance.

Yes, that Lance. Bryce is the brother of quarterback Trey Lance, the former No. 3 overall pick. But Bryce is carving his own path as a dynamic vertical threat, and his physical profile is turning heads ahead of the draft.

Patience has defined his journey. In a proven developmental program at NDSU, Lance redshirted and waited his turn, a common path for Bison players. The wait paid massive dividends. Over the last two seasons, he exploded for over 1,000 yards each year, showcasing a dangerous downfield game. His yards per catch skyrocketed to 21.2 in 2025, and he hauled in a ridiculous 17 touchdowns in 2024.

Then came the NFL Scouting Combine, where Lance solidified himself as a premier athlete. At 6'3" and 204 pounds, he possesses the ideal frame for an outside receiver. But it was his testing that created a buzz: a blistering 4.34-second 40-yard dash, a 41.5-inch vertical leap, and an 11'1" broad jump. These numbers translated to a near-perfect 9.98 Relative Athletic Score (RAS), placing him among the elite athletic prospects at his position in decades.

His game film from NDSU's run-heavy, play-action offense shows a player perfectly suited for that explosive testing. Lance is a smooth and effortless vertical route runner, using his elite speed to easily blow past cornerbacks and stretch the field. For a Chiefs offense that thrives on taking calculated deep shots with Patrick Mahomes, adding a weapon with Lance's size and verified downfield speed could be a game-changing move. He represents the kind of high-upside, later-round talent that could help define Kansas City's receiving room for years to come.