It may be some time before we get to see the NFL back in action, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have things to report. Free agency is almost upon us, and that will be followed by the 2021 NFL Draft. By the time those two events come and go, we will have a much better idea of how teams will look this coming season. In terms of the draft, we already know that Trevor Lawrence will go number one, but he is just one of many very good QBs coming out in this draft. If you ask around, you might here varied opinions on which of the other QBs will be the next pick after Lawrence. Most seem to think it will be Zach Wilson, but Justin Fields is another who is getting a lot of love. Let’s take a closer look at Fields and why he might be a top draft pick so you can make your bets against his NFL Draft odds.
Why is Justin Fields on Top for the 3rd Pick Overall of the 2021 NFL Draft
Fields College Career
Justin Fields was highly sought after in high school, with the Georgia Bulldogs the team that eventually landed the 5-star recruit. He sat in behind Jake Fromm at Georgia, but when it became clear that he was not going to get the starting spot, Fields hit the transfer portal and made the move to the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he immediately became the starter in 2019.
It was a fantastic first season with the Buckeyes for Fields, as he proved to be the thrilling dual threat that we all expected him to be. Fields put up some video game numbers, throwing for over 3,200 yards and 41 TD versus just 3 INT. He also added just shy of 500 yards on the ground, scoring 10 TD with his feet.
Even after such an impressive season, there were still a lot of pundits who did not believe that Fields would be a top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He went a long way towards silencing that group by helping take the Buckeyes to the National Championship Game last season in what was a shortened season. He put up 2,100 yards in passing and 383 on the ground, accounting for 27 TD. He also had his best season in college in terms of completion percentage at 70.2%.
What NFL Scouts Saw
Oddly enough, many of the people who questioned Fields ability to make the jump to the NFL were the same ones who thought that Lamar Jackson would be a bust. Fields arms strength is perhaps his best attribute, with his ability to get out of the pocket and make something happen with his legs also a real plus. Teams who look at the success that Jackson has had in Baltimore will almost certainly be drooling at the prospect of landing a similar talent.
There are some definite negatives that a team will get if they take Fields, with his seeming inability to read the field or the blitz at the top of the list. This is a player with a ton of raw talent and upside, though, which is why he is probably going to get picked in the top 5 in the draft.
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