2021 NFL Draft: Power ranking the 5 top quarterbacks
Going into the 2021 NFL Draft, everyone knows there are five quarterbacks who are first-round picks. Here’s how we rank them out.
5. Mac Jones, Alabama
Jones is a tough case. On one hand, he completed 77.4 percent of his passes in a pro style offense with 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Turn on the tape, and you see the accuracy, the touch and the poise. However, you also see Jones never being touched behind college football’s best offensive line and throwing to a quartet of first-round receivers over the past two seasons. Without mobility, he’s also strictly a pocket passer. What happens under duress?
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4. Trey Lance, North Dakota State
Lance only played one full season in college, enjoying a phenomenal sophomore campaign in 2019. The former Bison star threw for 28 touchdowns without an interception, catching the eye of scouts across the country. This year would have been his second full stint as the starter, but COVID forced him to play only one game with North Dakota State not having a season. Lance also brings his legs to the table, having rushed for 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns in ’19.
3. Zach Wilson, BYU
Barring a shock, Wilson is going to be the No. 2 overall pick to the New York Jets. He’s got a tremendous arm and the perfect build, along with enough athleticism to keep defenses honest, showcased by 254 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground last year. As a passer, BYU’s line kept Wilson incredibly clean, allowing him to throw for 3,692 yards and 33 touchdowns against three interceptions.
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2. Justin Fields, Ohio State
Why Fields is suddenly being devalued is a mystery. He was excellent in the Big Ten for the Buckeyes over the past two years, throwing 63 touchdowns against nine interceptions over that span. Fields also displayed the toughness needed in a national semifinal against the Clemson Tigers, being battered repeatedly before coming back to beat the top team in the nation. Fields can also run, totaling 867 rushing yards and 15 scores since 2019.
1. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
Lawrence has tremendous stats and won a title in Clemson, but he’s much more than the numbers. Watch Lawrence and you see a big, strong kid who can make every NFL throw. He scans the field and makes the right plays, has enough athleticism to make it tough on defenses to contain him, and can also win with either power or accuracy from the pocket or off platform. He’s a generational talent.
