The 2021 NFL Draft will take place in Cleveland in only a couple of days. The top part of the first round is rumored to be littered with five highly talented quarterbacks. One of those franchise-changing types of players is former Ohio State Buckeye Justin Fields.
At one time, Fields was a possible number one overall draft pick but Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence will receive that honor on Thursday evening. Where will Mr. Fields end up? Here are three teams that may draft Fields in the first round.
San Francisco 49ers with Pick #3
Most NFL draft experts cannot agree if the Niners will take Fields or Alabama QB Mac Jones with the third overall pick. Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan likes current QB Jimmy Garoppolo but concerns remain about Jimmy G’s health. Fields would make a lot of sense for San Fran because of his ability to hang in the pocket and deliver throws into tight windows. Also, Fields has good speed and scrambling ability which will come in handy at the NFL level.
Denver Broncos with Pick #9
Broncos team president John Elway is said to be committed to current quarterback Drew Lock. However, there have been plenty of draft rumors flying around that Elway would love to trade up to get either Fields or Trey Lance. It is doubtful that Fields will fall all the way to #9 so if the Broncos want a QB, they may have to move up to at least pick #4.
Atlanta Falcons with Pick #4
Many football savvy folks believe that the Falcons will draft Florida tight end Kyle Pitts with their first round selection. Pitts would be a huge asset to the Falcons but do not be surprised if the ‘Dirty Birds’ take Fields instead. Current QB Matt Ryan is 35-years old and the Falcons need to start training his replacement soon. Fields would be a fantastic option to bring in and learn under Ryan for a couple of seasons before taking over as the starting QB.
What unique skills does Fields bring to the table?
At 6-3 and 228 pounds, Fields has prototypical NFL size as well as the toughness to take big hits (NFL.com). The Kennesaw Georgia native also has blazing speed and the ability to break tackles to avoid sacks. In fact, Fields was recently clocked in the 40 at 4.44 seconds. That kind of speed is a rarity amongst quarterbacks and will create all kinds of headaches for NFL defensive coordinators.
In addition to good size and plus speed, Fields also demonstrated some charismatic leadership skills while at Ohio State as evidenced by his 20-2 overall record as a starter. The back-to-back Big 10 Offensive Player of the Year threw 67 total passing touchdowns as well as 19 rushing touchdowns throughout his illustrious collegiate career. No one knows which NFL team Fields will go to but he is a rare talent that should succeed at a high level for many years to come.
