2021 NFL Mock Draft: Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields are golden tickets
A way-too-early 2021 NFL Mock Draft takes a look at Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Ja’Marr Chase and the other best prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Congratulations, you have now made it 2021 NFL Draft season. With all 255 picks of the 2020 draft now in the books, there is a long offseason ahead. And with that offseason comes looking ahead to the next crop of top prospects that will enter the league next April. There’s no better way to do that than the way-too-early 2021 NFL Mock Draft.
The 2021 NFL Draft class is headlined by two quarterbacks who were the top overall prospects entering college football back in 2018, Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields. And though the latter has transferred after initially heading to Georgia, both players have lived up to the billing as potential superstars.
Lawrence and Fields are the golden tickets of this way-too-early 2021 NFL Mock Draft but, rest assured, the talent in the 2021 NFL Draft won’t end with two signal-callers. While we may not have another historic wide receiver class, the top of the 2021 group is elite. The same can be said for the offensive line class and the crop of edge rushers.
So who will be the show-stealers of the 2021 NFL Draft? While there’s still a full season of both college football and the NFL (hopefully) ahead to change things up, this is where things stand as we begin a new draft cycle in terms of the top prospects and what NFL teams need.
To determine the 2021 NFL Draft order nine months before it’s actually set, we’re simply using the latest Super Bowl odds from Caesar’s Sportsbook. Because of that, some picks are based on some projection.
For instance, if the teams picking at the top of the draft are there, they will likely be interested in the top quarterbacks. However, several others are a balance of need and trying to highlight the best prospects. So let’s do that as we get into the way-too-early 2021 NFL Mock Draft, the first of the brand-new cycle.
Scouting Report. QB. 1. player. 52. Pick Analysis. Clemson. Trevor Lawrence
Even with how great Joe Burrow was in the 2019 season that made him the no-question No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft, Trevor Lawrence would’ve still been the top pick in the recently passed NFL Draft. In fact, he likely would’ve gone over Kyler Murray in the 2019 draft as well.
Lawrence simply looks as if he was built in a lab to play quarterback at the highest level, flowing locks and all. The 6-6 Clemson star won the National Championship as a true freshman and made it back to the title game as a sophomore. Through two seasons — though he actually had to split time at the beginning of his freshman season — Lawrence has thrown for just under 7,000 yards, 66 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions.
With a laser arm that is just as accurate as it is strong, Lawrence also brings high-end athleticism to the position, able to take off for extra yardage and also extend plays with his legs. He’s the complete package.
Though the Jacksonville Jaguars are sticking with Gardner Minshew to start the 2020 season, this team is in rebuild mode after letting so many meaningful veterans out of the building. If they end up with the No. 1 pick, they can’t pass on the opportunity for Lawrence to change the franchise, barring a superstar sophomore season from Minshew.