The New Orleans Saints went into the 2026 NFL offseason with a very clear goal, which they executed well: surround Tyler Shough with offensive talent.
They added Travis Etienne Jr. and Noah Fant in free agency, signed David Edwards to shore up the OL, and then took to the NFL Draft and selected Jordyn Tyson and Oscar Delp. But the third receiving option taken might be the most interesting.
As ESPN's Katherine Terrell noted, Saints fourth-round rookie WR Bryce Lance, brother of Trey Lance, had a very intriguing minicamp for the Saints that should have the franchise and the fanbase excited.
Saints' Bryce Lance, not Jordyn Tyson, impresses during minicamp
"Lance made it count during the 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 periods, working with both the first- and second-team quarterbacks," Terrell writes. "He scored a touchdown in 11-on-11 red zone work on a pass from Spencer Rattler on the final day of minicamp and also had a touchdown from Tyler Shough in 7-on-7s that day."
With Tyson sidelined due to injury, and the veteran Chris Olave out as well, Lance got his chance to shine. And he did just that, reeling in a couple of TDs and impressing in his first action with the Saints.
While it was a by-product of the normal starters being out due to injury, considering the injury-histories of Olave and Tyson, seeing Lance thrive is some huge news for the Saints.
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This is exactly the kind of update from minicamp that Saints fans will love to hear. Even if Lance is merely the WR3 in this offense behind Tyson and Olave, having someone who can be a solid option in such a role is very valuable.
As Terrell noted, "it's a positive start for the rookie," even if he might not be seeing a ton of playing time once the season rolls around.
Lance becoming a legitimate receiving option would be huge for this team. While Tyson nurses a hamstring injury, Lance is thriving and could become a key piece of the offense this upcoming season, regardless of the health of Olave and Tyson.
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