Chapter 177: Lance the Trailblazer
Roger Goodell opened the envelope, slid out the card, and glanced at the name. For a brief moment, a flicker of satisfaction passed through his otherwise stoic eyes—fleeting, yet unmistakable. The gates to the Chinese market had finally been pushed open. This was history in the making.
Still, his expression remained calm and composed as he carried out his duty.
"...Lance, running back, Alabama."
History was made.
It was the first time in five years since Alabama's Trent Richardson in 2012 that a running back was selected in the top three of the NFL Draft.
It was the first time in NFL history that an Asian-American player was picked in the first round, let alone the top three.
It was also the first time a college junior—essentially a freshman by experience, having played just one season—was taken so high.
Lance was a player destined to rewrite the record books. Every step he took blazed a new trail, and every move became an unprecedented milestone.
In the green room, the announcement ignited an uproar.
Deshaun Watson froze as if struck by lightning, unable to move or react. Was he more shocked at being passed over by both the Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs, or at Lance being picked ahead of him? His mind went blank.
Staring at the tidal wave of Crimson Tide players flocking to pat Lance on the back, Watson felt as though he were back in Tampa Bay in January, reliving the nightmare of the championship game. The memory clamped onto his mind like an iron shackle.
Meanwhile, Lance was genuinely caught off guard.
Not out of humility, but because he truly hadn't anticipated this. From Nick Saban to Derrick Henry and even Donald Yu, everyone had helped Lance gradually come to terms with the realities of the league. He wasn't bitter or disappointed—he had no reason to be.
Lance had accepted his role as a rookie in the NFL and was prepared to earn his stripes one step at a time. He approached the draft with the same mindset: as long as he made it into the league, the challenge would begin.
To hear his name called so early? The supposed devaluation of running backs? What was happening?
Before he could process it, the room erupted into cheers.
The first to leap up and hug Lance was Patrick Mahomes, who was seated closest to him.
"Congratulations! Man, you deserve this—you absolutely deserve this!"
"Ahhh! You're the third pick, bro. You're this year's third overall!"
Mahomes' excitement seemed to eclipse even Lance's own. As Donald pulled Lance out of the crowd so they could head to the stage, Mahomes looked around and suddenly realized he was surrounded by Crimson Tide players.
"Wait, what's going on here?"
From the back, Marlon Humphrey yelled, "Lance, you're the coolest rookie in the league!"
Joining in, Christian McCaffrey—equally thrilled and exhilarated—rushed over to Mahomes. Both raised their arms high and joined in the chant, "Rookie! Rookie! Rookie!"
Soon, Kansas City Chiefs fans in the stands followed suit. The deafening chorus of cheers and chants spread like wildfire, engulfing the entire venue.
In front of a television, Brett Veach crossed his arms, quietly observing the scene.
"Well, Coach, what do you think?"
Andy Reid, still chewing his gum methodically, replied with calm conviction, "We made the right choice."
Up until the final moments, Veach had wavered.
The Chicago Bears had panicked, revealing their hand in the process. When Veach realized their target was Mitchell Trubisky, Kansas City gained the upper hand.
Still, Veach had his own reservations.
If the Chiefs weren't selecting a quarterback, the next best strategy would be to maximize the value of their pick, mitigate salary cap impact, and acquire Lance at a more reasonable slot. That way, they could maintain leverage.
The only lingering question: Was Lance worth it?
Veach's thoughts turned back to the film Reid had obsessively rewatched. Then, shifting his gaze to the live broadcast, he noticed the contrast: most prospects in the green room looked tense and stiff, their nerves barely contained.
But Lance? He was playing a game on his phone.
Maybe, just maybe, he could add Mahomes, bouncing around like an over-caffeinated flea, to that list.
With that realization, Veach made up his mind.
The trade with Chicago was finalized, allowing the Chiefs to recover everything they had given up to the 49ers:
Chicago's 2017 first- and third-round picks,2018 first-round pick,2019 first-round pick.
A massive haul.
For Veach, selecting Lance with the third pick was practically a bonus.
It was a gamble, but Veach believed that rewriting history often required bold risks. Playing it safe would never lead to greatness.
And so, history was made—in the most spectacular and dramatic fashion.
Mitchell Trubisky barely had time to bask in the spotlight. In an instant, he became a footnote, overshadowed by the flashbulbs and attention showering Lance.
Every doubt, every question, every concern was momentarily silenced.
Lance hadn't fallen out of the first round or faded into obscurity. Instead, the Kansas City Chiefs had shocked the league by snatching him with the third overall pick.
The 2017 NFL Draft's third overall pick: Lance.
The decision was final.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art erupted in applause and cheers. Whistles, screams, and thunderous clapping filled the air, refusing to subside.
A new chapter of Lance's journey had begun.
The sense of reality slowly settled in, and his chest swelled with resolve. The next stage awaited—what challenges lay ahead?
He could hardly wait.
Up ahead, Kansas City Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt stood proudly, holding up a red No. 1 jersey with Lance's name emblazoned on it.
"Welcome to the Kansas City Chiefs."
Hunt was beaming. Though the team hadn't selected a quarterback, which was a minor disappointment, the congratulations from Roger Goodell moments earlier had reminded him of one thing:
Lance's market potential.
Hunt didn't even need to wait until they returned to Kansas City. The roaring chants of "Rookie! Rookie! Rookie!" were proof enough.
When had the Chiefs ever commanded this level of excitement?
This was a first.
Hunt handed Lance the jersey. As Lance donned the signature red cap and held the jersey up, he glanced at it, smiling to himself. From the Crimson Tide to the Chiefs, the red remained unchanged.
Standing side by side with Hunt, Lance posed for the cameras.
Flashbulbs erupted.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art became a sea of red. Meanwhile, in the Jacksonville Jaguars' war room, the mood was decidedly different.
David Caldwell was fuming.
"Damn it!"
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