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With the NFL Draft quickly approaching, all 32 teams are working to finalize their big boards before round one begins. For some, this includes the quarterback position.
Quarterback is not only the most important position in football but perhaps, in all of sports. There have been and continue to be many teams that have been a quarterback away from a Super Bowl or at least serious contenders.
Fortunately, for teams in need of a signal-caller, this year's class of passers are regarded as one of the best in recent history.
Below are the top five quarterbacks in the upcoming NFL Draft.
1. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
It has felt like an eternity since Trevor Lawrence was designated as the presumptive number one overall pick. He has everything you look for in a quarterback. Lawrence also has the ideal build at 6'6 and 220 pounds.
He has a huge arm, potentially the strongest in this NFL Draft class. Despite being just 21 years old, Lawrence's understanding of the game goes beyond his years. Lawrence has the athleticism to get it down with his legs too, when the opportunity presents itself.
He has incredible pocket presence and goes through his reads well. Lawrence has textbook mechanics that the young and not so young should study. He is also a high-character guy and who has had zero off-field issues.
Lawrence is one of those talents that can turn a franchise's fortunes around in a relatively short time. In terms of weaknesses, you have to look under the microscope. There have been some instances when he is not very accurate, but even this is a fixable flaw. He is the clear cut top choice in the 2021 NFL Draft.
2. Zach Wilson, BYU
Just because Wilson is going to be picked after Lawrence does not make him a consolation prize. Down the road and depending on team situations, the gap between the two could be very narrow.
Wilson has all the physical tools to succeed at the next level. He has good arm talent and is a very accurate passer. Wilson is great under pressure, instinctively knows when the rush is coming and has a high football IQ. He can easily leave the pocket and extend plays either with his legs as well.
A common criticism of Wilson is the level of his competition. While he did not face top tier defenses regularly, one could argue that he did not exactly have the Alabama receiver corps to work with either. His deep balls could be better and he does have an injury history with the shoulder one being the most significant but Wilson is a sure lock to be taken early in the NFL Draft.
3. Justin Fields, Ohio State
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Fields possesses a strong arm like any prospect should, but has deadly accuracy at all levels of the field on top of it. This accuracy shows even when he is making throws on the run. Fields is quite polished coming into the NFL Draft but has an incredibly high ceiling.
The most glaring flaw in Fields' game is his tendency to lock in too much on his first read. This will lead to sacks and missed opportunities that might hurt the team early on. For this reason, it is especially important that he goes to a team with a capable offensive line.
4.Trey Lance, NDSU
Of all the quarterback prospects in this class, no one has a higher variance in terms of the trajectory than Lance. One reason for this unpredictability is the limited tape on him, as Lance played one game in 2020, due to the pandemic.
North Dakota State University was the only school that gave him a shot to play as a signal-caller. Other programs wanted Lance to suit up for them, but as a wide receiver, outside linebacker, or safety. The fact that he was considered to play those other positions is telling of his physical tools.
Lance has a cannon for an arm and is an electric runner. He is the very essence of a dual-threat quarterback. His arm strength shows both inside and outside the pocket. Opposing defenses should worry about getting torched on the ground as much as through the air.
Lance is still quite raw and the team that drafts him should seriously consider the Patrick Mahomes approach of not throwing him out to the fire right away and learning the offense behind a veteran quarterback. This also gives the team time to build the structure around Lance and have an environment that gives him the chance to succeed. Expect Lance to go early in the first round of the NFL Draft.
5. Mac Jones, Alabama
Jones can start on day one and already has a very mature game. He throws with anticipation and is accurate in short to intermediate throws. Jones can quickly go through his reads and make the smart play. He has a high floor and will probably be an above-average NFL quarterback at worst, which is something a lot of teams would sign up for.
The downside to Jones is that he lacks elite physical traits. He is not very athletic and his arm strength is a tier lower than the other prospects. Furthermore, he played with a stacked Alabama roster and will probably see his two top receiving targets, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle, selected ahead of him in the NFL Draft.
