This could end up being the best-case scenario for the New England Patriots in the 2021 NFL Draft.
North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance, regarded as one of the top five signal-callers in this year's class, fell to the Patriots at No. 15 overall in an NFL Network live mock draft Sunday night.
NFL Media analyst Mike Giardi, who covers the Patriots, made the pick for New England in the made-for-TV simulation.
"We're taking the athletic kid with a big brain. We're taking Trey Lance to run this franchise for the next decade or so," Giardi said during his appearance on the NFL Network show.
NFL Draft expert Daniel Jeremiah, who previously has said he could see Lance fitting well with the Patriots, gave his approval of the pick.
Now will New England be able to manufacture some draft luck when it actually matters? We'll find out Thursday when the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft kicks off.