Bryce Lance’s impressive start to New Orleans Saints training camp has already made him one of the more intriguing young players on the roster. Now, he has added another notable name to his preseason résumé: Jacksonville Jaguars two-way star Travis Hunter.
During the Saints’ joint practice with Jacksonville, Lance reportedly made several big plays against Hunter, including a touchdown. Another play saw Lance beat Hunter in coverage for a significant gain.
That matters because Hunter isn’t an ordinary defensive back. The former No. 1 overall pick entered the NFL with extraordinary expectations because of his ability to play both cornerback and wide receiver. After missing significant time as a rookie because of injury, Hunter has returned to Jacksonville’s lineup and has been one of the biggest attractions of the Jaguars’ offseason.
For Lance, getting the better of Hunter provides another reason for Saints fans to pay attention.
The fourth-round pick from North Dakota State was already generating buzz before the Jaguars arrived. Lance was selected 136th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft after a productive college career that included more than 2,100 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns. He also ran an impressive 4.34-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.
His combination of size, speed and big-play ability is becoming increasingly difficult for the Saints to ignore.
Lance’s rise is particularly interesting because New Orleans already has a talented group of receivers. Chris Olave remains the centerpiece, while Devaughn Vele and first-round pick Jordyn Tyson are expected to have significant roles. Tyson’s recent hamstring issue, however, could create additional opportunities for Lance and fellow rookie Barion Brown.
And that is where Lance’s camp performance could become important.
Rather than needing to immediately become one of the Saints’ top three receivers, Lance could carve out a role as a situational weapon. His speed makes him dangerous on vertical routes, while his ability to gain yards after the catch gives New Orleans another way to manufacture explosive plays.
The Saints’ own coverage of Lance has also reflected his development. The team recently featured him discussing his rookie progress at training camp, while quarterback Spencer Rattler has received attention for his developing connection with fellow rookie Barion Brown.
The most encouraging part for New Orleans is that Lance’s hype isn’t coming from one isolated practice. He’s repeatedly showing enough during camp to force his name into conversations about the receiver rotation.
Beating Hunter doesn’t guarantee Lance a roster spot or a major role. Training-camp victories are still only practice reps. But when a rookie consistently creates explosive plays—and then does it against a player with Hunter’s pedigree—it becomes harder to dismiss the excitement surrounding him.
The Saints may have expected Lance to be a developmental fourth-round pick.
He is quickly making the case that he can be much more than that.
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