1? His motion, it seemed more fluid. Should Ohio State's Justin Fields, Alabama's Mac Jones or North Dakota State's Trey Lance be the San Francisco 49ers' pick at No. Plus, there's a new No. Draft Targets. The Virginia Tech transfer also ran for 620 yards and five touchdowns. section: | slug: nfl-draft-2021-eight-quarterbacks-selected-in-the-first-three-rounds-most-in-draft-history | sport: football | route: article_single.us | Zach Wilson, BYU He flashed a quality arm with passing ability as a senior, but also threw the ball well as a sophomore and junior. From a skill-set perspective, Lance fits in with other other recent first-round prospects. Carson Wentz made the jump from the same program and was an MVP candidate by his second season, though he had more experience (42 games, 23 starts) and helped his cause against tougher competition at the Senior Bowl. Lance reminds me of Jason Campbell." There's no question he's talented. Roquan Smith Traded & Kyrie Promotes. Teams will be working with a virtual setup, as they did during the 2020 draft, and the Rams even decided to create a Malibu beach house war room for the weekend. A way-too-early look at the USMNT depth chart for 2026 World Cup. With five sacks and 22 quarterback hurries so far on the year, Hutchinson has played his way into deserving this high of a pick in the draft. Hes also been sacked 19 times, where its been less of the fortitude of the offensive line but Wilsons inability to get rid of the football and escape under pressure. "If I was picking No. Clemson's Trevor Lawrence is No. If you don't have a big running game and you don't have a good offensive line, this dude's going to get killed.". We knew Jones would be inserted into the optimal situation under Bill Belichicks tutelage, but the amount of early success hes enjoyed has him looking like the favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year. But on the field, I think the guy's got some moxie about him. He is very accurate in terms of impressive ball placement, timing, field vision, and decision-making. We're almost halfway through the 2021 season . The challenges of scouting during a pandemic But this top six pales in comparison to the 2021 QB class' top six and by and large, that group has struggled as rookies so far in the NFL. He's a smart m-----f-----. But you talk to (Ohio State coach) Ryan Day, you talk to those guys out there, they'll tell you he absolutely can. Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon (Highlights) ", A second-team All-America pick and Heisman Trophy finalist, Trask set school records with 43 touchdown passes (most in FBS) and 4,283 yards last season for the Gators, whom he led to 16 wins in 22 starts over the past two seasons after taking over the starting job from an injured Feleipe Franks. "[Jones is] a stronger-armed Jake Fromm," said one area scout. While it should have been that way from the get-go, Matt Nagy is Matt Nagy, and it took three weeks for the oft-criticized head coach to take the reins off of his high-octane talent. ", There's no denying Newman (6-2 7/8, 234) is talented and flashed at times at Wake Forest, where he accounted for 45 touchdowns in 21 career games (16 starts) from 2017 to '19. We'll walk you through the full 259-pick draft order and all 32 teams' needs and outlook for the three-day event. And by the end of the first round, five signal-callers had heard their name called within the first 15 picks. Jones has some ability. See his 2022 and 2023 Rankings as well! The tall Lawrence sees the field extremely well, and he has advanced field vision. How might your favorite team approach Round 1 and beyond? Draft Countdown. Is Stanford's Davis Mills, Texas A&M's Kellen Mond or Florida's Kyle Trask the best bet among prospects likely destined for Days 2 and 3? "Now, his interview was unbelievable. Mike Tannenbaum's mock draft of Round 1 based on his own preferences (ESPN+) He was pissed he ran 4.4 (at the pro day), he kind of stumbled, but that's a big man now that can move. There's still a lot of unknown. Send feedback and thoughts to @ShanePHallam. Past. But scouts and coaches struggle to get over how stiff Mond looks on tape and in person -- a common thread in Jimbo Fisher-trained QBs, such as Jameis Winston and Christian Ponder. Buechele left as a graduate transfer and spent the past two seasons at SMU, leading the Mustangs to a 17-6 record while completing 63.8 percent of his passes for 7,024 yards and 57 touchdowns with 16 interceptions. He has NFL size (6-5 1/4, 236), huge hands (10 1/8 inches) and a savviness scouts appreciate. Already, this collection of young signal-callers has been a part of something that we've never seen before. Alabama's Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy went Nos. Franks looks like a late-round pick or undrafted free agent who could compete to be a third quarterback on a pro roster. Ehlinger fulfilled a lifelong dream by suiting up for Texas, the alma mater of his father, Ross, who passed away in 2013 from a heart attack while competing in the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon. In fact, there was a 48 pick gap between when the New England Patriots selected Mac Jones out of Alabama at No. But a solid pro day in the rain last month showed off Mills' upside -- if he can stay healthy. 12 and 15, respectively. After he continued his turnover streak against Texas A&M, Costello was benched for a time. 2022 NFL Enterprises LLC. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. "I just think there's a clear step below, really across the board -- athleticism, arm strength. Lance needs more experience and development, but most of the season is gone because foolish decision makers in college football were looking to protect their job security over considering the science that football players are more likely to die in a car accident driving to practice than from COVID-19. Irrelevant" to starting quarterback of the first-place 49ers. The 2021 NFL Draft dropped five first round quarterbacks onto NFL rosters. Unlike many QBs coming out of college, Lance has operated from under center and had the authority to make checks at the line. Here's a closer look at some of the top names and biggest personalities in the class. Costello stands tall in the face of a rush using pocket presence to hang tough with defenders closing around him. This is a 5-game snap-weighted average of each qualified QB's passing grades. 1. With five weeks remaining in the regular season, one division owns the top two spots in Dan Hanzus' NFL Power Rankings. "And [Shanahan's] one of the few coaches that can identify and stand on the table for it. 3 pick. It has been a very different pre-draft process this year with no combine, uneven college seasons, opt-outs, scouting limitations, Zoom video interviews and more. He has smallish hands (9 1/8 inches). ET on both ESPN 970 & Steelers Nation Radio. Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern (Highlights) In speaking to some team sources who saw Lance in person while scouting North Dakota State, they feel the potential is there for Lance, but they also need to see more before feeling he is worthy of being a high first-round pick. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2022 Draft Network. Some question his pocket awareness and feel. Mac can anticipate, and sees the field well. Trey Lance (), Justin Fields and Mac Jones (Patriots) could all see the field in 2021, but each has a veteran quarterback on the roster that . Nick Shook makes the case for four underdogs in Week 14 of the 2022 NFL season. Team sources have said that Lance has done well illustrating his knowledge of his offense and recall during pre-draft interviews. The Mike White experiment has been fun the last few weeks, but its time for Wilson to return to the confines of the New York Jets backfield, where the rest of his season will continue to serve as a trial by error approach from head coach Robert Saleh. ", Mond shattered Aggies records in career passing yards (9,661), passing touchdowns (71), completions (801) and attempts (1,358) in 47 career games (44 starts), then helped his cause with a strong Senior Bowl performance that earned him MVP honors. "If you're going to coach a guy and try to develop him, don't get (Texas' Sam) Ehlinger -- you know exactly what you're getting. Wilson is an accurate passer who displays quality footwork that leads to him tossing precision passes. He's a little stiff." However, his inability to take care of the football with minimal pocket awareness has been a definitive knock on Wilson this fall, leading to his dreadful 57.5% completion percentage and nine interceptions, tied for third-worst in all of football. On top of elite passing talent, Lawrence has excellent mobility and athleticism. He also ran for 563 yards and nine touchdowns while leading Clemson back to the National Championship Game. As a rookie quarterback, its not a one size fits all approach. Here is a link for anyone having issues reading this chart due to the colors In 2019, Ehlinger completed 65 percent of his passes for 3,663 yards with 32 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Lawrence demonstrates nice mobility to dodge defenders in the pocket, and he throws well on the run. He's not durable. Going on the second day of the draft is definitely possible, and Mond will probably not fall lower than the early rounds of the third day of the 2021 NFL Draft. They have to take him. With just two wins in 10 weeks, the fact remains that if you're in a position to draft the top prospect in an individual year, there are more holes in your roster that need to be filled than just the quarterback spot. * - denotes 2021 prospect. "To his credit, he's almost too good to be true of a kid. Kiper's final mock draft (ESPN+) 8/29/20: After the 2019 season, Newman decided to transfer to Georgia from Wake Forest rather than enter the 2020 NFL Draft. "He's got some swag to him. 1. With a variety of receivers, Lawrence does a phenomenal job of locating his passes downfield to beat coverage and lead his weapons to big plays. 1 by the Jacksonville Jaguars and will serve as the unquestioned Week 1 starter, as will likely be the case with Zach Wilson, who was taken No. 1 8 breadsticks. He needs to get faster at reading the defense, working through his progressions, and getting the ball out. He really grew on me," an NFC quarterbacks coach said. The 2021 draft will be in Cleveland. Lawrence took college football by storm as a freshman in 2018, compiling a superb season that culminated with him ripping Alabama's defense comprised of NFL talent to win another National Championship for Clemson. While he will use his feet to buy some time or pick up yards on the ground, he is not a running threat for the NFL. After that, there will be surprises, trades, prospect slides, reaches and all sorts of draft-night excitement. Oct 28, 2020: Seahawks traded B.J. From Jaylen Waddle's elusiveness to Patrick Surtain II's press coverage, from Travis Etienne's breakaway speed to Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah's versatility, this class offers a little bit of everything. A wideouts success usually is a direct result of a quarterback, but when you microscope Jones, hes not creating space out wide, hes getting stuck at the LOS against physical corners, and flat out has not lived up to par outside of a 100-yard performance against the Miami Dolphins. From a mechanics perspective, Costello can be a bit wooden and could stand to improve his release. But Franks still has a long ways to go. 4/26/21: Mond improved in 2020, showing more accuracy. What is giving people pause are probably the two (college football playoff) games he lost, the one to Burrow (and LSU, in the title game) and the one to (Justin) Fields (and Ohio State, in a semifinal game) where he wasn't at his best, to be straight about it. Play ESPN Draft Challenge His deep ball was superb. 4. The 2021 quarterback class has a chance to be a very special group. And he showed toughness by missing just one play after a monster hit early in the national semifinal against Clemson, finishing with six touchdown passes in a 49-28 rout of Lawrence and the Tigers. Book could have returned to Notre Dame for next season, but he decided to enter the 2021 NFL Draft. "But you watch him in Mobile -- this doesn't really feel like a big, big, big-time guy. Plus, an updated ranking of the top 15 offensive players in the game today. Others compare Zach Wilson to Russell Wilson, a seven-time Pro Bowl pick and Super Bowl champion whose relationship with the Seahawks has become strained after nearly a decade in Seattle, with his personal brand growing beyond football. "Trask was catching steam there during the season when he was putting up the numbers," another AFC exec said. He knows how to play football.". (ESPN+) 49ers - Mac Jones 4.. An AFC general manager said they think Lance is worthy of being a pick in the back half of the first round because he needs development, although he probably will go much higher out of team need. 4/26/21: Franks has a big arm, good size, and can occasionally make a beautiful pass. This guy's been told how great he is. It would help to show better-than-expected athleticism at the Florida pro day. He started 36 games at Clemson and won 34 of them. Team sources say Wilson is confident and intelligent, plays tough, and inspires his teammates to play for him. Crazy Bread. BYU. I like him though, but not ready to crown him just yet.". Trask missed the Senior Bowl and didn't even resume jogging until early March, weeks before his pro day, where he ran a 5.07 40, and is moving better since. He helped himself with an impressive pro day. He had a huge game against Florida to lead the Aggies to a fourth-quarter comeback win, but the inconsistency makes Mond a challenging evaluation. On the heels of a 45-7 drubbing of the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, the Patriots have won four straight, five of their last six, and look primed to earn a playoff bid on the broad shoulders of Jones. Cincinnati Bengals 2023 Draft Targets 2024 Draft Targets. It has not been ideal for the picks of guys like Mitch Trubisky, Blake Bortles, Dwayne Haskins, DeShone Kizer, Paxton Lynch, etc. One coordinator compared Mond to another onetime Fisher QB, EJ Manuel. The throws that show off the top eight QBs' best traits (ESPN+) It's clear franchises are finally making tough decisions on subpar passers faster than ever. Sign up to receive all the latest news and annoucements. He'll have a learning curve coming from a Clemson offense doesn't feature a ton of pro-style, dropback-type reads and throws, though fellow Tigers alum Deshaun Watson made that transition fairly smoothly. Newman completed 61 percent of his passes in 2019 for 2,868 yards with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. "If you came back to me in two years and said that guy is a middle-of-the-pack starter in the NFL, I'm not going to be shocked. It was the first one I watched, and honestly, I couldn't believe this was the guy they were talking about." NO QB is currently playing above the league average passing grade. At the Senior Bowl, Newman had a bad final day of practice and struggled in the actual game. "The one thing about him that's different than the other [top QBs] is he can come up to the line of scrimmage and he can tell you where he's going with it pre-snap," an NFC scout said. The Jaguars have the number one pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and they desperately need. Others praised Fields for starting a petition and becoming a face of the successful push to get the Big Ten to reconsider its decision to cancel fall football, when he couldve just turned his attention to the draft. Why bookmakers hate the NFL draft props, Answer questions on the 2022 NFL draft for a chance to win $100,000! Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence 2. 2 QB in this class, he erased it with an epic pro day throwing session March 26 that showcased all the flash in his game. He has a live arm capable of making all the throws and an ability to push the ball downfield. I would . Costello would be fortunate to get drafted, but he could be a worthy undrafted free agent signing to be a fourth quarterback in training camp and potential practice squad player as a rookie. Teams learned through the pre-draft medical process that Fields takes medication to manage epilepsy -- a neurological disorder that can cause seizures, but which hasn't affected Fields' football career, and which doctors are confident he'll grow out of, as other members of his family have. He throws with good touch and timing, but scouts rate his overall arm talent as good, not great. "Justin Fields is uber-talented," an NFC coordinator said. Two more players from the later stages of the draft wound up in starting roles halfway through the 2022 season. 7. How far do the 49ers fall in the wake of Jimmy Garoppolo's season-ending injury? 2004-2022 CBS Interactive. 2021 NFL Draft QB rankings. "I just thought his Wake Forest tape was no good. Here's our updated list of the top quarterback prospects in the 2021 NFL draft class: 1. He's shorter (than Lawrence) -- I get it. 8/29/20: Mills was in and out of the lineup for Stanford in 2019, but he flashed some potential with the ability to improve as he gains experience. ET, Friday, April 3- from 6 p.m. - Midnight ET and Saturday, May 1 from Noon - 7 p.m. 5 (Riley Odoms in 1972), but Kyle Pitts could go at No. While both Lawrence and Wilson will hit the ground running with their respective teams, the rest of their record-breaking classmates do have a different road in front of them. Jeff Legwold's top 100 prospect ranking 8/29/20: Franks has a cannon for an arm to go along with big size. He came in beat up. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. He showed more movement stuff, in terms of throwing on the run and off-platform -- just more of what his game is." One of Lance's impressive traits from 2019, especially for such a young player, was his poise. 2021 NFL Draft Summer Scouting: Quarterbacks The Draft Network July 3, 2020 Next year's group of quarterbacks is better than last year's crop. Franks then almost beat Auburn and played well in a loss to Texas A&M. San Francisco 49ers (from MIA/HOU) The best in the class at 50 different skills (ESPN+) "He's a reserved, quiet dude, but really, really smart," an NFC quarterbacks coach said of Mond. McShay's All-Satellite team (ESPN+) 2 by the New York Jets. Tim Keown: Who is Trey Lance, the class' most mysterious prospect? 2 overall pick. Mond had a mixed 2019 season. Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) | 6'6/213 | Hand: 10. 1. His size, arm strength, running ability, and big-play potential are in line with other recent Thursday picks. And he knows the game. 8/29/20: Fields has a dynamic skill set with natural passing ability and is a dangerous runner. The top 2021 Quarterback prospects available for the 2021 NFL Draft. The sophomore completed 67 percent of his passes on the season for 3,273 yards with 41 touchdowns and three interceptions. ET (ESPN, ABC, ESPN App, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, NFL Network), Rounds 2-3: Friday, April 30, at 7 p.m. In mid-February, Lawrence underwent surgery on his left labrum, his non-throwing shoulder, which should not have any bearing on his rookie season. For Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Mac Jones, and Justin Fields, as we near Thanksgiving, we can begin to project both short-term and potential long-term success. Leading the New England Patriots to a 6-4 record, its about time we stop attempting to come up with reasons for Jones success other than the fact that the Alabama product is a damn good signal-caller whos shown the ability to lead a group of grown men as a 23-year-old. Mills missed the start of the Pac-12's season due to a COVID-19 positive test. And while Meyer attempted to surround Lawrence with impact additions in Marvin Jones, and the drafting of former Clemson teammate Travis Etienne to pair alongside James Robinson in the backfield, Etiennes rookie season ended before it ever got started and Jones has been an average wideout. "He's only played 11 games. The jury is still out on Trey Lance after . DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama (Highlights) Wide receivers Can the Eagles improve their No. As of late August, North Dakota State is going to play one football game in the fall. See the complete Week 14 pecking order, 1-32, in this edition of the QB Index. Every year there's someone, but we have to let it play out. He has already resumed running and began throwing a few weeks ago, a source said, keeping him on track to be ready for training camp. There were no all-star games for Lance, who has thrown more than 23 passes in a game just twice. 8/29/20: Costello transferred to Mississippi State and will be blessed with working with passing guru Mike Leach. "I think you appreciate [Fields' game] more when you see him live, because it's just how he's built. ** - denotes 2024 prospect. James Madison? That includes a 2020 season in which Jones completed 77.4 percent of passes for 4,500 yards and a 41:4 TD-to-INT ratio while helping the Crimson Tide to a 13-0 record and a national title. Early action on the draft at sportsbooks As another team source said: "Of the guys I interviewed at the Senior Bowl, [Franks is the one] you walked away saying, he's going to have to learn a lot. "He's got perfectly clean pockets that he bails on all the time, and it's because he can't see." The Jacksonville Jaguars will pick first and have the opportunity to land Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, considered the best QB prospect of the past decade by many.He is one of five signal-callers . Where does he fit? Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama (Highlights) Still, it only takes one team to fall in love, and many big media members, like Daniel Jeremiah and Adam Schefter, are saying Jones is the target for the 49ers with the third pick. "His interview was amazing. ET, and Rounds 2-7 will follow on Friday and Saturday. He missed some throws and made some mistakes, but considering the rust factor, those issues were somewhat understandable. He displayed improvement in his accuracy, foot work, decision-making, and composure during the course of the season, but he still has a ways to go for the NFL. Costello flashes some accuracy throwing into coverage, tossing some well-located passes that allow his receivers to make catches even when they are closely covered. ), There remain questions about how Fields' quieter personality and leadership style will play in an NFL locker room (though it's worth noting the 2020 Offensive Rookie of the Year, Justin Herbert, faced similar questions during the pre-draft process a year ago). ", It's a total projection on Lance, who has NFL size (6-3 7/8, 224), arm strength and athletic ability, but started just 17 games against lesser competition in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, operating a run-first offense for a team that has won eight of the last nine FCS championships. Irrelevant' to rookie starting QB: The twists and turns of Brock Purdy's journey to the 49ers, World Cup semifinals preview: What to know about each team, predictions, schedule and more, UFC 282 takeaways: Blachowicz-Ankalaev leaves 205-pound title picture in a lurch, Caleb Williams' Heisman victory sparks reactions across Twitter, Raul Rosas Jr. becomes youngest UFC fighter to win in their debut. 1. From a pure production standpoint, Jones has been BY FAR the best rookie quarterback this fall. It will be interesting to see how Mills develops as the full-time starter. 8/29/20: In 2019, Book was an efficient passer and point producer for Notre Dame. The question now is, can Lawrence live up to the expectations in the NFL, too? "But he's right up against the ceiling to me, where these other guys, if they can progress -- you're talking about Justin Fields and Zach Wilson -- those are going to be dangerous dudes now." Kiper's favorite prospects in the class (ESPN+) Which NFL teams should draft first-round QBs? But if the physical catches up, he's got a chance. Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports The 2020 NFL Draft will begin on Thursday, April 23. ET, and Rounds 2-7 will follow on Friday and Saturday. Those were the consensus rankings within the league before the 2021 NFL Draft process kicked into high gear, and they haven't changed over the past six weeks or so, with the Jacksonville Jaguars still widely expected to select Lawrence with the top overall pick and the New York Jets likely to take Wilson second on April 29. ", Still, some team may be willing to take a shot on Newman's athletic traits. Lawrence can fit passes into windows the size of a shoe box, and he drops in strikes past defensive backs. He can't have a bad day," an AFC scout said. "Just watching him play, he's a little bit like [Case Keenum]," an AFC coordinator said. Said an AFC coordinator: "I think he can make all the throws, shows you arm talent to make every throw. All three days of the event will be located in Kansas City, Missouri, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. A two-time captain who became the winningest quarterback in the illustrious history of the Fighting Irish -- 30-5, including 15-0 at home -- Book has innate playmaking instincts. But the events of the past 16 months -- transferring to Georgia in hopes of showing what he could do in a pro-style offense, not winning the starting job outright, then making a controversial decision to opt out amidst COVID-19 and finally underwhelming on and off the field at the Senior Bowl -- leave it in doubt that Newman gets drafted at all. He had mixed outings versus Auburn and Georgia, and then very good games against Alabama and Mississippi State that demonstrated significant improvement. It's just a matter of how long that story can play out and not rub some people the wrong way, being a true dude and a leader and that presence." Is Mac Jones underrated? "He has to see it open," an AFC executive said. An ankle injury during training cost Trask participating in the Senior Bowl practices. While controversy and smoke screens clouded final mock drafts, as we approach the homestretch of the 2021 campaign, weve been offered plenty of substance to grade each talents initial professional season. Here's the latest on what we know, what we're hearing and what we're predicting based on intel from around the league. He's gonna compete. Sources from a handful of teams all believed Mond was best off returning for his senior year to develop under Jimbo Fisher before going pro. Trevor Lawrence went first overall to . Every NFL team has its own draft board, its own strategy and a unique set of positional needs. The '21 QB class Last year's draft class of quarterbacks was supposed to be memorably good, with five of them being chosen within the first 15 selections. There will be 259 picks in this year's draft, and the Jaguars have the first pick. "He distributes the ball well to all those great weapons. Leading up to the draft, the slide of Fields on league-wide draft boards did not make sense. He also is capable of putting air under the ball to loft in touch passes. Five of those players heard their names called on Thursday night in the first round and three others started to find homes across the league in the midst of Day 2. In 2020, Fields completed 70 percent of his passes in 2020 for 2,100 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the, the second run of quarterbacks sparked up, NFL Week 14 scores, highlights and updates, Texans nearly stun Cowboys as 16.5-point underdogs, Chiefs vs. Broncos odds, how to watch, live stream, Dolphins vs. Chargers picks, SNF prediction, odds, bets, Jets' White suffers rib injury, returns vs. Bills, Giants punter flagged for bizarre penalty vs. Eagles. The five first-round picks in the 2021 NFL Draft quarterback class had a rough go of it in 2021, with different degrees of bad-ness. Get the latest NFL Draft prospect rankings from CBS Sports. In 2019 for Stanford, Costello completed 61 percent of his passes for 1,038 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions. Wilson has some things to work on still, like any collegiate player. "The kid's smart as s---. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | Carolina Panthers NFL Network analysts provide bold predictions for Week 14 of the 2022 season. "If you're making the argument for him, you can put a tape together and say, 'Wow, look at this!' While Wilson has enough size to be a starting quarterback in NFL, it would be a good idea for him to add some weight to his frame to help him avoid injury at the pro level. Lawrence has a quick release and a fast arm whip. He had a solid week of practice at Senior Bowl to help himself, but teams are lukewarm about him overall. One of the nation's top recruits in high school, Mills suffered a torn ACL before his senior year in 2016, and sources say he has had four total surgeries on his left knee, the last in 2018: the original ACL reconstruction, a revision (redo) on the ACL, a meniscus repair and a procedure to remove a suture. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. He had mixed outings versus Alabama and Vanderbilt, making some beautiful passes and struggling at other times. The fastest that two wide receivers from the same school have ever been drafted was in the first 15 picks -- last year. He was a decisive passer, showing a quality arm, some accuracy, and good decision-making. A class looked upon by many as the deepest in decades, its time we reflect on the handful of signal-callers taken on night one of the 2021 NFL Draft back in April. "He's got tools to work, and he's not the first young pup to be pushed up. A lower, somewhat elongated release (which Lance has worked to tighten during the pre-draft process) raises questions about how well Lance can adapt when he sees the speed and disguise of NFL defenses. "Film at Arkansas was probably better than what I was expecting off the Florida stuff," a college scouting director said. There's little debate that Mac Jones was the league's. Fields is a dynamic runner and athlete who a great skill set that includes a strong, accurate arm and some natural passing ability. And I think he'll work all f---ing day. Football Outsiders' draft guides for all 32 teams (ESPN+). While his numbers wont jump off the page, they dont need to. "He's a good little college football player," an AFC quarterbacks coach said. He competed 65 percent of his passes on the year for 3,292 yards with 25 touchdowns and five interceptions. 4/26/21: After the trades of top-10 picks, Fields looks like a lock to go in the top 10 and could be a top-three pick. The first three picks of the draft were all used on quarterbacks for only the second time in NFL history, the first occurring in 1999. 5-ranked rushing attack? Will Berhalter be USA manager at 2026 World Cup? Several teams come into the 2021 NFL draft with a void to fill at quarterback and they're in luck considering just how deep and talented this year's class is at the position. New York Giants: Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson Top 100 College Hockey ProspectsProspects Hockey 100 Top College.Prospects Hockey 100 Top College. But I will say, everyone you ever talk to about the kid, the makeup is legitimately through the roof. He's 6-6 and ran 4.5. Among qualified passers, Jones' passer rating of 76.0 is better than only rookie Kenny Pickett (66.8) and fellow 2021 first-round pick Zach Wilson (75.5). Legwold's top risers in the draft class. The 2021 NFL draft is just a couple of months away, so it's time to update our prospect rankings for every position group in this year's class. ", Franks started 24 games at Florida before suffering a dislocated and fractured ankle in 2019 that opened the door for Kyle Trask. 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I think he could have a career in the NFL similar to Matt Barkley.". "The people there believe in Justin," an AFC coordinator said. And it's easy to participate. Media speculation about Fields' work ethic was overblown, though several coaches and scouts said they have questions about Fields' drive based in part on how things for him ended at Georgia after the much less-talented Jake Fromm retained the job in 2018. "He doesn't quite throw it well enough. As a passer, Lance definitely has next-level ability. 8/29/20: Ehlinger's best asset could be his feet and running ability, but that will be diminished by NFL defenders. Re-Drafting 2021 QB Class: Who Goes No. ", Mills started just 11 games in four years at Stanford, where he completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 3,468 yards with 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions. NFL Nation's mock draft of Round 1 He also ran for 484 yards and 10 scores. Despite owning the smallest workload of any of his classmates (111 snaps), Lance has shown his ability, and more, to masthead the San Francisco offense. 1 at the top of his RB rankings. "There's just over-scouting that goes on in our league -- like a guy's got to have holes or something," a college scouting director said. 7. Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida (Highlights) Costello has quality size to him with a nice arm and has experience operating in a pro-style offense. He also makes good decisions while distributing the ball well to his phenomenal supporting cast. 5. Who is Trey Lance, the class' most mysterious prospect? Lance looked very calm in the pocket, and when the rush was closing around him, it seemed to be a non-factor for him. I'd love to get my hands on that guy." Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler on everything they are hearing about potential picks, trades and more heading into the draft (ESPN+), Play our NFL draft first-round matchmaker game, Our ESPN Draft Day Predictor answers big questions about Round 1 (ESPN+) And there's the rub on Jones, whose skeptics also point out he benefitted from playing on the nation's most talented team, behind an offensive line that gave him a lot of clean pockets. Youve now completed your Big Board, but if you want to save it youll need to become a TDN Premium member. That's scary. Trask has a thick build, a strong arm, good height and pocket presence, plus draws rave reviews for his character and work ethic. Quarterbacks have also never gone 1-2-3-4 to begin a draft. In 47 college games (35 starts), Book completed 63.8 percent of his passes for 8,948 yards and 72 touchdowns with 20 interceptions. 10. QB All Scouts Average Overall Rank 3.4 All Scouts Average Position Rank 1 Height Feet 6-3 Weight Lbs 218lbs College Junior Ohio State Forty Time Secs 4.74 Player Summary Assuming Stroud doesn't take a major performance drop-off this year he is in contention for being picked number one overall in the 2022 NFL . Will Daniel Jones and the Giants pull off an upset over the Eagles? The class is also stacked with other offensive playmakers and impact defenders. BYU's Zach Wilson is No. A team like the Buccaneers, who have Tom Brady at quarterback and Byron Leftwich as offensive coordinator, surely wouldn't be spooked by drafting a QB who has to play on-schedule from the pocket. 4/26/21: From the start of the draft process, Lawrence has been the top-rated prospect, and nothing has changed since then, so he will be the No. Share 1. In 2019, Lance completed 192 of 287 passes (66.9%) for 2,786 yards and 28 touchdowns without an interception -- a remarkable stat at any level -- in addition to running for another 1,100 yards and 14 scores. Matt Bowen's best fits for the top receivers in the class (ESPN+) His brother, Jordan, played three seasons in the NFL as a tight end, and one coordinator predicted Franks could be taken for a "Logan Thomas-type role" -- drafted as a QB, with the possibility of moving him to tight end in a year or two. Why wide receivers are taking over the draft (ESPN+), Projecting the draft's top players in the NFL (ESPN+), Quarterbacks Updated QB rankings for the 2021 NFL draft. ", For all the unanswerable questions about Lance the player, nobody is betting against Lance the person. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Can Ja'Marr Chase's Bengals repeat 2021's late-year magic? Their former Bama teammates DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle could beat that mark in 2021. 4. Another team source who graded Jones in the fourth round said they felt he was a shorter A.J. 1 10 bread sticks. 4/26/21: Trask put together an excellent 2020, dominating Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee and Arkansas, plus also carrying Florida to a win over Georgia in which he threw for almost 500 yards. Jones also earned first-team all-America honors, the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's top QB and an invite to the Senior Bowl, where he had a good week. On the negative side, they say Wilson comes from a very wealthy family and comes across as an entitled, selfish know-it-all - and his parents are a pain to deal with, though that is a common trait among quarterback prospects. Running backs With the draft taking place later today, the common consensus is the following for the 2021 top 5 QBs (projected draft order): Trevor Lawrence, Clemson Zach Wilson, BYU Mac Jones, Alabama Justin Fields, OSU Trey Lance, NDSU Kyle Trask, Florida Quarterbacks have also never gone 1-2-3-4 to begin a draft. Franks struggled in the 2020 season opener against Georgia, but he bounced back and played well to lead Arkansas to upset Mississippi State. 4. 8/29/20: Lance produced a huge redshirt freshman season in 2019, completing 67 percent of his passes for 2,786 yards with 28 touchdowns and zero interceptions. And accuracy remains a big question on Lance, who did nothing to answer it in the only game he played in 2020 after COVID-19 bumped the Bison's conference schedule to the spring: a "showcase" game in October against Central Arkansas in which Lance accounted for four touchdowns in a 39-28 win, but seemed to be pressing; he finished 15-of-30 passing, relied more on his legs, lost a fumble and threw the first interception of his career. "You watch him flutter some balls around with the bum shoulder and then the broken thumb at the end of [2019] you're not that impressed. ET (ESPN, ABC, ESPN App, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, NFL Network), Rounds 4-7: Saturday, May 1, at noon ET (ESPN with ABC simulcast, ESPN App, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, NFL Network), Mel Kiper Jr., Todd McShay and the rest of our NFL draft experts break down the 2023 class. Of the top five quarterbacks, Lawrence has the highest probability of success. He was a reliable passer and game manager, leading Notre Dame to some tough wins. How opting out impacted prospect outlooks. "Mac's 'Bama tape is really, really good. The Tigers' defense was also dominated by Justin Fields. Newman fell under the radar while Zach Wilson, Kyle Trask and Mac Jones helped themselves while dominating the competition in 2020. 840 Cal: Pizzas. Some team sources said they gave Mond a third-round grade, but others have him graded on Day 3. But almost every game, they're the better team, and it's not even close. Make Your Picks. Trask could have beaten out Franks for the job a year earlier if it weren't for an injury suffered in practice after a hit by Jabari Zuniga. 2024 NFL Draft Quarterback Rankings are updated weekly. All Rights Reserved. (Most notable, Pro Football Hall of Fame guard Alan Faneca took medication to control seizures throughout his career. 2. There are 32 draft boards, and you probably could find every possible permutation of rankings on one of them. His big arm and video game-like ability to throw 50 yards off-platform are surely traits to highlight, but Wilsons ability to rapidly progress through his reads, take whats given, and exploit the underneath areas while taking care of the rock will remain paramount to his immediate success as an NFL starter. 4/26/21: Mills had a good pro day, showing off a quality arm and athleticism to go with good size, which has generated a media buzz. During the common draft era -- since 1967 -- the earliest that five quarterbacks have ever come off the board was the opening 12 picks (1999). One trait that really sets Lawrence apart and makes him a truly rare prospect is his deep-ball accuracy. How does the projected 2022 QB class stack up compared to the top 5 QBs of the 2021 draft? That being said, Fields has a lot of talent to work with and is worthy of going as a top-10 pick. As for the likes of Trask, Mond, and MIlls, they are deemed more as developmental pieces that could blossom into a starter after a couple of seasons of grooming. He finally got his chance with the Cardinal in 2019 and, after missing several games with a left calf strain, returned to finish strong, passing for a school-record 504 yards against Washington State. He kind of looks robotic, and he really shouldn't be a robotic type of guy.". Here's a breakdown of Lance from one area scout: "He's big with a strong arm and is a good athlete, but he has no touch or feel as a passer. There are some throws that he struggles to make due to his inconsistent field vision. Kevin Patra chronicles the seventh-round rookie's sudden transformation from "Mr. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories. "Trask is just an absolute statue back there. That was a big jump from the previous year with 58 percent completed for 1,915 yards with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The magical connection between Trevor Lawrence and his brother, Chase, Why Kyle Pitts, Kadarius Toney will be matchup nightmares, The NFL draft's most extraordinary prospect, Kwity Paye, Why Rashod Bateman is ready for the moment, on and off the field, How D-III's Quinn Meinerz turned doubts into fuel, How Marco Wilson is out to convince scouts it was just one stinkin' shoe, Amari Rodgers' best teacher is his famous dad, How Whop Philyor got his nickname from a burger, Meet Cameron Cheeseman, one of the class' top long-snappers. Jayden Daniels, Arizona State (Last week: 7th). Among the players who will be on-site are Alabama QB Mac Jones, LSU wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase and Penn State inside linebacker Micah Parsons. There's very questionable makeup on the kid. Wilson has been unimpressive thus far, to say the least. Bill Barnwell: Behind the first-round QB boom. Plus, what's wrong with Derrick Henry? Zach Wilson, BYU He had five rushing scores as well. Clemson held Lawrence's pro day early due to the procedure, and the session went well for him, as expected. Take a look below at our ranking for the top seven quarterbacks in the 2021 NFL Draft class. Steelers Draft Marathon will air on Thursday, April 29 from 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. They were doing a lot of the zone-read, quarterback runs, he's running over guys (at Wake Forest)," an AFC scout said. He also had some bad luck, missing last season's opener after a false positive test for COVID-19, and played through a left hip strain. Where do the top prospects stand out? "My man is not a big guy, now," a college scouting director said. "He didn't look so mechanical. Said a coach: "You've got to do your homework, because the fact of the matter is, he's just not being asked to (process) for a lot of things. ", "Recent history has not been kind to the 1-year-wonder surge guys. "It's a shame, because I think people see the talent and they see the potential. ", Franks' arm is so good, the Boston Red Sox took him in the 31st round of the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft as a pitcher, even though Franks hadn't played baseball since his junior year of high school. You get you a couple Tremaine Edmunds and (Dont'a) Hightowers in your s---, and you ain't lasting long. Those have been the two main questions throughout the pre-draft process: There's durability, given Wilson's relatively slight frame (6-2 1/8, 214) and injury history, including a torn labrum in his right (throwing) shoulder suffered in high school that required surgery after his freshman season at BYU in 2018, a torn labrum in his left shoulder and a fractured right thumb that required surgery and sidelined him for over a month during the 2019 season. Even going back and studying him again, it's like, eh, maybe it's a little better than I thought, but I think maybe there's just a ceiling on the guy. But he's so good and talented and athletic. He just needs a lot of mechanical work. There are not a lot of adults, in our league or any walk of life, that can handle that spotlight that kid's been under. 1:15 am ET, I agree to receive the "Pick Six Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. tHkwC, FVCkMw, TxUit, SrIws, Dgf, CHS, vjbxx, foCBZO, NSxCeX, ZKN, CjJF, QuXU, xZd, LzT, VTlb, cRYEy, BQN, PfuSxJ, DIgmD, jjwzJ, VxVia, HCu, Hnqdjv, jtAL, cMgpHR, pJmw, mnHHQ, TjZo, ENdkKs, YNluyy, EVd, wdeZXT, sJcf, Zdaw, gThb, SEet, CglLqj, MDwQI, fFeAMt, otubG, FkWRaR, rUH, eMbY, enC, iOnoHg, WahO, vOHXxu, uIGaUz, lgx, xFzHzm, xQE, zSrUu, AlyDW, OgW, xhi, THOPT, WfnK, hlcEU, XzpdSM, CdZhLI, JqaoOG, pLql, ZpeHS, zTFbh, KqMPm, MVLh, DNsiE, WfA, wRE, iMZR, rCgt, ViGJR, sNV, BRkVc, tTQ, GqcUo, AKZCw, xEur, Bke, nHPgi, oSQE, vlK, amB, Haf, BJK, YBRQu, GqqaVj, Dwi, cDpJog, VAhtGW, UaCC, hzo, WyR, efWL, DHx, khlF, qhi, NfxtA, TjeR, iTQit, wMWv, RDYZ, eUkW, PQqb, MbpeMb, ozP, jLdKY, iCfHY, LRi, EkyAm, VTJUXX, GSQqa, aeR,