2021 NFL Draft: Top 6 Quarterbacks

With college football back for nearly every conference, almost every top 2021 quarterback prospect (sorry Trey Lance) have been able to play and prove why they deserve to be a top pick. So far as a whole this class has impressed me more than 2020; with 6 quarterbacks standing out as potential early-round prospects. With November nearly behind us here are my top 6 quarterbacks of the 2021 NFL Draft.

6: Kyle Trask, Florida

The rise of Kyle Trask over the past year has been quite special to watch. Last year in relief for Feleipe Franks, Trask looked like a good starter with solid potential. Few had Kyle Trask as one of the front runners for the Heisman Trophy before the season, but the Manvel Texas native has defied all expectations to make Florida one of the highest-powered offenses in the league.

Trask has improved all year with his accuracy, making tight window NFL level throws throughout the season. He can make accurate throws on all levels of the field, and has shown great composure in the face of pressure all season. He has been really good in the pocket, really showing he can navigate around while keeping his eyes downfield. He’s carved up defenses so far this year, with 31 touchdowns and a 70% completion percentage.

The reason I have Trask at 6 is because of a few physical limitations. He doesn’t have the worst arm in the world, but it isn’t on the level of say Trevor Lawrence or Justin Herbert. It’s a good serviceable level arm. He might not be able to make every throw every time at the next level. He also isn’t the best athlete in the world, he might struggle a bit to extend plays. That being said, I think he has the potential to be a really good starting quarterback for a team. There’s a lot to like him as a quarterback, and he could be really good on the right team.

5: Mac Jones, Alabama

Mac Jones is having an equally great season to Kyle Trask, currently 2nd in the Heisman race. He has been extremely accurate, with a 77% completion percentage. He is currently 2nd in the SEC in passing yards with 2,426. He doesn’t have nearly as many touchdowns as Trask, but don’t forget running back Najee Harris already has 16 touchdowns in 7 games this season. Alabama is currently 3rd in college football in points per game. Mac Jones has Alabama in this position with a combination of great accuracy, anticipation, and pocket movement. Jones has been a surgical pocket passer and has shown great toughness, getting off tough throws while taking a hit.

Despite the season Jones is having, he is lower on the list for the same reasons as Trask. He just has a solid arm, especially compared to some of the other guys coming up on the list. He also doesn’t have that much athleticism, don’t expect Jones to break off big runs. Have Jones operating in the pocket, making tough accurate throws, and he can possibly be your quarterback of the future.

4: Trey Lance, North Dakota State

Trey Lance has all the tools to be a franchise quarterback in the NFL. At 6’4 226 he certainly has the size and the looks of an NFL quarterback, and he has the arm to match. He was phenomenal at North Dakota State last season with 28 touchdowns and 0 interceptions to go with a 66% completion percentage. He dominated the FCS with a great powerful arm and the great deep ball. Lance is also a really good athlete and can create magic running the ball. He’s a threat with his arm or his legs, and with enough time could be a big-time player in the NFL.

There definitely are a lot of questions regarding Trey Lance. As with every FCS player, did he just dominate the lower-level competition. Can his success translate to the NFL? Can he fully read the field, or is he just one side of the field reader right now? Lance is also inconsistent with his accuracy at times. He has to clean up a good amount of footwork issues. There are certain nuances to his game that aren’t there quite yet, which isn’t surprising as he only had one season starting. He hasn’t had time to truly develop. Right now Lance is like a pot roast. He needs time to really cook and fully develop. If taken out too early, he might just be too raw and unable to fully reach his potential. It might take some time, but Lance has the potential to be a top quarterback.

3: Zach Wilson, BYU

Zach Wilson has been special this year at BYU. Wilson currently is 3rd in the NCAA in passing yards with 2,724. He has a 74% completion percentage to go along with 26 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions. There are at least 2-3 throws Wilson makes every game that makes you shake your head. Football should not be this easy. His deep ball accuracy is incredible, he can put it in a tight window from 50+ yards out. He can do it on the run too. His general accuracy has improved from last year, making him more of a complete passer.

Zach Wilson is a gamer. It is his biggest strength. His ability to make big-time throws outside of the pocket as the play breaks down is what makes him a top 3 quarterback, it is also going to lead to some frustrations early on. He is going to play hero ball. He looks for the big play. It is going to be important to reign him in a bit, have him play a bit more in a system, and learn when it’s best to take the big gamble. I’m not quite sure yet if he has an elite arm or just a very good arm, and I think his mechanics are possibly to blame for that. Some of Wilson’s throws are pure arm strength, not using the lower half of his body completely. He still is a prospect and it’s important to remember that. He is not a complete product yet. If he plays early he might have some growing pains. A team could look to sit him for a year (Falcons?) and really groom him into being the franchise quarterback for the next 10+ years.

2: Justin Fields, Ohio State

I talked about Justin Fields in last week’s edition of Weekly Risers, and even though he struggled a bit against Indiana, I still really like Fields as a top 5 prospect this year. He has so much going for him as a passer. He’s great at moving around the pocket, and has a nice arm. His decision making is good, and his accuracy is top-notch. Fields currently lead the NCAA in completion percentage at 79.6% through 4 games. He can get it done with his legs too, a truly electric runner in the open field. He looks like the modern NFL star quarterback.

While a really good prospect, Fields is not perfect. He still is really young. There are certain nuances that still need to be developed. He still is only a true junior and is only a 2nd-year starter. He needs to learn when it is best to scramble and make a play, and when he needs to get rid of the ball or take a sack. He needs to learn to live and fight another down sometimes. It is something that should come with experience and time in the league. Overall Fields is in the mold of the modern NFL quarterback that can get it done both through the air and with his legs. Right now he is easily a top 5 player in this class and a potential franchise quarterback.

1: Trevor Lawrence, Clemson

It feels like we’ve been waiting 3 years for this. If you watched any of Lawrence in high school at Cartersville or even at the Elite 11 prior to college, you’ve been waiting for Lawrence to be the #1 pick in the draft for a long time. It seemed like a foregone conclusion that Lawrence would be the #1 pick going into this year, and it’s easy to see why.

Trevor Lawrence has everything you look for in a franchise quarterback. He has the size at 6’6 220. He has the elite cannon of an arm. He has an outstanding college resume, with only one loss in his collegiate career coming in last year’s national championship against LSU (possibly the greatest college team of all time). He won a national championship as a true freshman. He has it all. He has a phenomenal deep ball, with a blend of elite arm strength and elite accuracy and placement. He has great ball placement on throws of all levels. He doesn’t panic, he has great poise under pressure. He reads coverage well. He has tremendous athleticism, especially for his size, and he uses that size to take hits and keep battling. He makes great throws on the run and off-platform. If you were to create a quarterback in a lab, it would most likely look like Lawrence. But I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know.

As for negatives, Lawrence will sometimes lock in on his first read. Sometimes he goes into a play with almost a predetermined plan, but any further criticisms would just be nitpicking. He’s improved every year in college. This season he has 17 touchdowns to 2 interceptions to go along with a 70% completion percentage. Lawrence is the real deal and is rightfully deserving of all the hype he’s received over the past two years.

All Stats from Sports Reference College Football, ESPN, and SEC Sports

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-By: Jacob Keppen