NFL Draft: Pro comparisons for the top 32 prospects in 2021

NFL Draft 2021 Pro Comparisons: Justin Fields → Deshaun Watson

There are some who view former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields as the top passing prospect available in the 2021 NFL Draft. It’s not the majority, but Fields certainly has a good amount of people who believe he can develop into an elite pro quarterback.

When looking at what he was able to do during his two seasons at Ohio State, it’s not hard to figure out why so many people are incredibly excited about his potential. Since 2019, Fields has thrown for more than 5,000 yards and 60 touchdowns while also tossing fewer than 10 interceptions.

Combine these numbers with his 15 rushing touchdowns in the last two seasons and it’s easy to understand why so many believe this talented passing prospect will be one of the first quarterbacks to come off the board in this year’s NFL Draft.

Why he compares to Deshaun Watson:

Deshaun Watson has never really been known as a run-first quarterback during his career in the NFL with the Houston Texans. Watson has certainly had a number of impressive rushing plays, but he’s relied more on his arm to move the Texans offense down the field each game.

This is something that can also be said about the way Fields plays out on the turf. He’s capable of scrambling and eluding defenders if he needs to, but he’s going to try and use his arm first to gain yards if he can.