The Washington Football Team made quite the splash this year in free agency, solidifying positions of need by picking up QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, WR Curtis Samuel, CB William Jackson III, slot receiver Adam Humphries and doing so without breaking the bank! The Niners made a big move today, trading their next 2 years of 1st round picks to move up to 3^rd overall, likely to pick their QB of the future. The Eagles then traded their 6th overall pick for the 12th pick (Niners original pick) as well as the dolphins 2022 1st round pick as well. After the dust settled, the Dolphin’s came out as the big winners in all this. They now own the 6th overall pick in this years draft, the next two years of Niners 1sts, and an extra 2nd and 3rd over the next few years to boot. I’m sure the pick trading is just getting started but now that free agency has cooled down, here is my full 1st round mock draft:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB Clemson.

Zach Wilson is becoming the media’s darling favorite but this is a no brainer. Urban Meyer begins Jacksonville’s rebuild by getting his franchise QB.

2. New York Jets: Zach Wilson, QB BYU:

New head coach Robert Salah takes his QB of the future with BYU’s Zach Wilson. He’ll be thrust into action early to try and turn around the lowly Jets.

3. San Francisco 49ers: Mac Jones, QB Alabama:

The Niners didn’t trade up to get a project at QB and the trade happened just one day after Alabama’s pro day. Interesting. Yes, the Niners fans may hate this but Lynch and Shanahan know the Panthers are in on Jones at 8 and potentially the Eagles at 6. Reports are they offered the same package to the Falcons but Atlanta refused. All in all, Shanahan gets his QB of the future who is far and away the most accurate passer in this draft. If Jimmy G isn’t traded before the draft, Jones will likely start out the season on the bench behind Garoppolo but it won’t take long before Jones is starting.

4. Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Pitts, TE Florida:

The Falcons refused the kings ransom from the Niners and clearly have their eye on someone.  That someone is Kyle Pitts. Granted, the Falcons will be hard pressed to not take a QB here since Matt Ryan’s play has started to slip. However, Pitts is a surefire superstar with hall of fame potential. Pairing him with Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley will create nightmares for opposing coordinators.

5. Cincinnati Bengals: Penei Sewell, OT Oregon:

The Bengals fans will most likely be upset they passed on Devonta Smith, Jamar Chase, and Waddle. However, Sewell is the correct choice. Sewell was widely considered to be the best prospect in the whole class and will be a force at LT from the jump. Burrow will be happy with him protecting his blindside for years.

6. Miami Dolphins: Ja’Marr Chase, WR LSU:

The Fins take the first WR off the board by selecting Ja’Marr Chase. He was a force for that LSU Tigers team that won the national championship a year ago. He goes before any other WR even though he took last year off due to COVID concerns. The Dolphins reign of terror is just getting started.

7. Detroit Lions: Micah Parsons, LB Penn State

The Lions select possibly the scariest player in the whole class in Parsons. There were rumors that he was a problem in that Penn State locker room but after he ran a 4.39 40 at his combine, the Lions will have no problem stopping his slide here at 7.

8. Carolina Panthers: Justin Fields, QB OSU:

Matt Rhule and company finally get a QB of the future and didn’t need to trade up to select him. Fields was widely considered the #2 overall QB in this class until that Northwestern game happened. He will benefit from sitting a year and learning behind Bridgewater.

9. Denver Broncos: Patrick Surtain, CB Alabama:

The Broncos take one of the best players in the draft by selecting Patrick Surtain and begin rebuilding that defense that won them a Super Bowl five years ago.

10. Dallas Cowboys: Jaycee Horn, CB South Carolina:

The Cowboys will be upset that Surtain went one pick before them, but they will stick to their board and select Horn here at 10. Horn should start immediately and fill the big hole that Byron Jones left the Cowboys when they let him walk in 2020.

11. New York Giants: Devonta Smith, WR Alabama

The Giants revamped offense adds another weapon as they select the former Heisman Trophy winner Devonta Smith. That offense suddenly look terrifying with the addition of Kenny Golladay and the return of Saquon Barkley. If Smith can get open at even half the rate he did in college, the sky is the limit.

12 Philadelphia Eagles: Rashawn Slater, OT Northewestern:

The Eagles moved down in this draft, knowing well that they will miss out on the opportunity to draft one of the big three receivers in Pitts, Chase and Smith. However, they’ve ignored their offensive line for too long. They will start to remedy it here with Slater. He has been overshadowed by Sewell in this class, but make no mistake about it, he is a great prospect. Slater was one of the only players to slow down Chase Young and he did so as a true freshman. He will start for Philly from day one and I’ll be excited to see if he can stop Chase twice a year.

13: LA Chargers: Christian Darrisaw, OT Virginia Tech:

The Chargers may go for Jaylon Waddle here but Darrisaw is the safe and correct pick. Darrisaw is widely considered the #3 best offensive lineman in this class and has all the size, strength and athleticism you look for in a starting LT. He should start protecting Herbert’s blind side from day one.

14. Minnesota Vikings: Alijah Vera-Tucker, OT-OG USC:

The Vikings have some serious firepower in Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen, and Justin Jefferson but they need to upgrade that o-line to give Kirk some more time to find them. Vera-Tucker projects as a guard by most, but has played at every position on the o-line for USC. His versatility will come in handy for the Vikes who will hope to put it all together up front.

15. New England Patriots: Jaylon Waddle, WR Alabama:

The Patriots went crazy this off-season, spending the most money in free agency by a longshot. They will look to add some more firepower here with Waddle. Add Waddle to Jonnu Smith, Hunter Henry, and Nelson Agholor signings and now Cam has something to work with.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Caleb Farley, CB Virginia Tech:

Kyler Murray and the Cardinals had a hell of an offense last year but their defense let them down at times. With the addition of JJ Watt, the Cards now have two premier pass rushers. Now they add Caleb Farley, who was a lock-down CB at VT, to fill the hole created by the departure of Patrick Peterson. The Cardinals are looking like contenders.

17. LV Raiders: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB Notre Dame:

The Raiders select the 2020 Butkus Award winner and immediately firm up their weak side linebacker need. JOK has an impressive length and speed but he will need to bulk up if he is to become an every-down linebacker.

18. Miami Dolphins: Najee Harris, RB Alabama:

The fins use their second 1^st round pick to take Tua’s old teammate, Najee Harris. It’s debatable who is the best RB in the class, but Harris was so impressive last year for the Tide, especially in the playoffs. Harris will become the Dolphins every down back and look for him to be odds on favorite to win Rookie of the Year.

19. Washington Football Team: Nick Bolton, MLB Missouri:

The Washington Football Team will be hoping that JOK falls to the #19 but with the Raiders taking him two picks earlier, they’ll stay at linebacker and select Nick Bolton. Bolton may be considered a reach here, as he is considered by most to be an early 2nd round talent. However, Bolton has the kind of physicality and tenacity to take this defense to the next level. He will quickly become the emotional leader and hopefully become the same kind of middle linebacker that Rivera has drafted and mentored over the years (Luke Kuechly, Levonte-David).

20. Chicago Bears: Trey Lance, QB NDSU:

The Bears desperately need a QB after failing to trade for Desean Watson/ Russell Wilson and having to settle for Andy Dalton. They will happily roll the dice with Trey Lance here at #20.

21. Indianapolis Colts: Samuel Cosmi, OT Texas:

The Colts have a great interior offensive line but need some work at the tackle position. Cosmi was a standout at Texas and started at both right and left tackle over 3 years for the Longhorns. He should have no problem starting at either position week 1.

22. Tennessee Titans: Trevon Moehrig, S TCU

The Titans take the first safety selected in this year’s draft and he’s a good one. Look for Moehrig to beat out Byard in preseason and become an instant ball-hawk for that tough Titans defense.

23. New York Jets: Kwity Paye, EDGE Michigan:

After selecting his QB, Salah and the Jets select the first edge rusher in this year’s draft and fill a big need. I could see them considering a WR here as well but the best EDGE rusher on the board this late in the 1^st round is too much value to pass up.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Teven Jenkins, OT Oklahoma State:

The Steelers offense took a big step back on offense last year. Much of that was because they could not seem to run the football. They’ll be happy if the 6’6” 320lb Jenkins falls into their laps at #24.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars: Liam Eichenberg, OT Notre Dame:

The Jaguars will want to protect their new franchise QB and Liam Eichenberg will do just that. He is an NFL-ready left tackle and will be Lawrence’s best friend protecting his blind side.

26. Cleveland Browns: Zaven Collins, LB Tulsa

The Browns defense has some play makers on the outside in Denzel Ward, Greedy Williams, and Myles Garrett. Now they need to firm up the middle. Collins finished 2^nd in the Butkus Award and was basically the entire Tulsa defense. He’ll be just fine in Cleveland.

27. Baltimore Ravens: Jaelan Philips, EDGE Miami:

The Ravens have the most aggressive defense in the league and it paid off last year. However, they still need an edge rusher who can get after the QB without having to dial up a blitz. The Ravens will hope the former 5-star recruit will build upon his 2020 season and become the pass rusher they need.

28. New Orleans Saints: Rashod Bateman, WR Minnesota:

The Saints can go in a few directions here. They could use a safety to replace the aging Malcomb Jenkins. They could use a cornerback to lockdown the opposite side of Lattimore. They could even reach on QB here in case Jameis and Hill don’t work out. However, Bateman has all the speed and size to be a superstar at the next level and should take some pressure off Michael Thomas.

29. Green Bay Packers: Kadarius Toney, WR Florida:

The Packers really botched it last year, trading up to select QB Jordan Love instead of selecting a desperately needed receiver even after Rodgers pointed out that the Pack have never drafted a skill position player in the 1^st round since he was selected. Toney is an exciting prospect and will quickly become Rodgers favorite target.

30. Buffalo Bills: Travis Etienne, RB Clemson:

The Bills have their franchise QB in Josh Allen. Now they need to keep giving him weapons. Their rush offense was one of the worst in the league and Singletary/ Moss weren’t getting it done. Etienne is twice the player those two are.

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Jalen Mayfield, OT Michigan:

The Chiefs offensive line was fully exposed in the Super Bowl and they had to release their only Pro Bowler on the line because of the lowered salary cap. They will take the best tackle available here and Mayfield was a stud for Michigan last year. Mahomes will be pleased.

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Christian Barmore, DT Alabama:

Barmore is the first defensive tackle selected in the draft and he joins that scary defensive line that wreaked havoc on the Mahomes. Barmore will be a nice interior rotational player for the Bucs who look to give Brady his 8^th ring.

The Washington Football Team will have a general manager this season for the first time since Scott McCloughan was forced out in 2016. Martin Mayhew comes to the DC with a wealth of experience. Mayhew played DB for the Redskins from ’89-92 and was a part of the team who won Super Bowl XXVI. He began his front office career with the Redskins as well in 1999 as a personnel intern. After a few years, he was hired as the senior director of football administration for the Detroit Lions in 2001 before being promoted to assistant GM in 2004. He was promoted to General Manager in 2008 and held the position until 2015 where he was fired early in halfway into the season when the Lions started 1-7. He resurrected his career in San Francisco, moving from a senior personnel executive in ’17-18 to VP of player personnel for the last two years. Again, Mayhew clearly has the experience to handle our GM position. One of the most important duties of a General manager is scouting and drafting young talent through the draft. After doing a little digging, here is a short breakdown of Mayhew’s draft classes (1^st three rounds) during his tenure as General Manager for the Detroit Lions.

2009: Martin Mayhew was promoted to General Manager during the 2008 season and he had his work cut out for him. The Lions would finish the ’08 season 0-16 and were, obviously, granted the 1^st overall pick. He used the 1^st overall pick to select Matt Stafford, QB Georgia, who was a home run. He solidified the Lions QB position for over a decade and Stafford proved to be the best player in 2009 draft class. Outside of the 1^st overall pick, this draft class was mediocre, however. Tight end Brandon Pettigrew, OK State, was taken with their second 1^st round pick (#20 overall). He started for the Lions for years, but injuries derailed him from every being great. Louis Delmas, Safety Western Michigan, was taken with their 2^nd round pick. Delmas had a decent career where he was named to the NFL All-Rookie team was named as a Pro Bowl alternate in 2011. He was released after the 2013 season after having a strange taunting incident with the UW-Marching Band at a Wisconsin game. Deandre Levy, LB Wisconsin, was the 1^st of the Lions 3^rd round picks. He started for the Lions ’10-14 and battled injuries for his whole tenure. He was signed to a 4-year extension in 2015 only to be injured his first game in 2015 and never play again. Derrick Williams, WR Penn State, was the team’s second 3^rd round pick and after barley seeing the field his rookie season, he was released before the start of the 2011 season.

Summary: All in all, solidifying the QB position is all you can reasonably ask your General Manager to do. Not selecting an offensive lineman to protect Stafford with that second 1^st round pick (or any of those other picks) may have haunted him, though.

GRADE: A-

2010: The Lions were granted the 2^nd overall pick in 2010 after going improving to 2-14. They used their 2^nd overall pick to draft the meanest, nastiest defensive tackle to ever come out of Big 12 by the name of Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska). Suh was somewhat of a no brainer. Suh made multiple Pro Bowls and is still playing today (won a Super Bowl this year with the Tampa Bay Bucs). Jahvid Best, RB California, was Lions second 1^st round pick and Mayhew traded up to select him. Best was a track star in college, running a 10.62 100m dash, and made headlines when he scored 6 TDs in a single game. Best came into the league with a ton of promise but could never stay healthy. He was cut after two seasons. Amari Spievey, CB Iowa, was the Lions 3^rd round pick. He was quickly moved to Safety upon arriving at Lions camp but was out of the league by 2012.

Summary: Like the 2010 class, I’m sure Mayhew may be kicking himself for not drafting an offensive lineman to help protect Stafford instead of selecting Best. Suh proved to be a fine pick, however. You could argue that Mayhew drafted the best player in the draft for the 2^nd year in row.

GRADE: B

2011: The Lions progressed to 6-10 in 2010 and were granted the 13^th in the 2011 draft. There, Mayhew selected Nick Fairley, DT Auburn, 13^th overall.  At the time, it made perfect sense. They were hoping to pair Suh with another stud defensive tackle and dominate the line of scrimmage. Sadly, Fairley never panned out. He was stout at times but inconsistent at best and struggled with injuries. Fairley would peak in 2012 as he was selected as a 2^nd team All-Pro, but the injury bug would get the best of him. Fairley ended up on the IR in ’13 and ’14. He would bounce around the league after 2015 but could never start all 16 games before he retired in 2018. Titus Young, WR Boise State, was the Lions 2^nd round pick and who slid to the second round due to ‘behavior issues’. Young’s behavior issues would rear their ugly head in 2012 where he was sent home for sucker punching a teammate in practice. He would later tweet about not wanting to play anymore if he did not get the ball. Young was cut the following February after just two years. Mikel Leshoure, RB Illinois, was the Lions second 2^nd round pick for whom they traded their 3^rd and 4^th round picks away to secure.  Sadly, Mikel tore his Achilles his rookie year before ever taking a live game snap. He stayed on the team through the 2013 season but did not make the 53-man roster cuts in 2014.

Summary: This draft was a real head scratcher. In hindsight, maybe Mayhew should’ve looked harder at taking one of the many great edge rushers that were available instead of Fairley such as Ryan Kerrigan, Cameron Jordan, Muhammad Wilkerson and Cameron Heyward. Add that to the fact he caught a falling sword in Titus Young and traded up for the bust Mikel Leshoure, this draft surely set the Lions back.

GRADE: F

2012: The Lions made the playoffs in 2011 despite their ugly rookie class, going 10-6. The Lions secured the 23^rd pick in the 2012 draft and used their 1^st round pick on tackle Riley Reiff from Iowa. Reiff would never make a pro bowl, but he proved to be a valuable bookend left tackle for Detriot. Reiff played with the Lions until the 2017 season where he entered free agency and chose to sign a big $58.5 million five-year deal with the rival Vikings. Mayhew followed this up by selecting another 2^nd round WR who wouldn’t pan out in Ryan Broyles from Oklahoma. Broyles only lasted two years and was cut upon request in the 2015 preseason. Bill Bentley, CB LA-Lafayette, would be the Lions 3^rd round pick. Bentley would hardly make a name for himself and was cut in 2015 due to injury concerns.

Summary: Three years after Stafford was draft, Mayhew finally selected a tackle to protect him. However, missing on yet another 2^nd round skill position player is beginning to look like a trend.

GRADE: C+

2013: The Lions would come back to down to Earth in a big way in 2012, going 4-12 and losing eight straight to end the season. They were granted the 5^th overall pick. Mayhew was ready this year and selected future Pro Bowler Ziggy Ansah, DE BYU. Ansah led all NFL rookies in sacks (8) his first year and would go on to be a force for Lions. He would make a Pro Bowl in 2015 where he amassed 14.5 sacks would be ranked 43^rd in the NFL’s top 100 players in 2015’s off season. Mayhew would select another future Pro Bowler in Darius Slay, CB Miss St, with the 2^nd round pick. Slay would prove to be a valuable pick, starting for the Lions from week 1 of this rookie season all the way through 2019. Slay became a staple of the Lions defense, finally being named a Pro Bowler in 2017 (where he was also ranked 49^th in the NFL top 100 players). Larry Warford, G Kentucky, was the Lion’s 3^rd round pick and what a career he had. Warford started for the from week 1 and was named as the Rookie of the Year by Pro Football Focus as he did not give up a sack the entire season. Warford would play out his rookie contract but sadly signed with New Orleans Saints in 2017 where he would be named to three straight Pro Bowls.

Summary: You can’t do much better then drafting three Pro Bowlers with your first three picks! It’s a shame Warford didn’t win any Pro Bowls while he was with the Lions, though.

GRADE: A+

2014: The Lions would improve to 7-9 in 2013, just missing the playoffs by losing their final two games of the year. They were granted the 10^th overall pick in 2010 where Mayhew selected Eric Ebron, TE UNC. Ebron’s career started slow, being listed as 3^rd on the depth chart his rookie year. Yet, he was still able to finish the year with 248 yards and a TD. He would slowly get more opportunities over the years, finally starting in year three and proving to be a solid receiving TE for the Lions. However, he would be released by the Lions in 2018 clearly wanting to get out from under the 5^th year option the executed the year before. Ebron would eventually sign with the Colts in 2018 which is where he would breakout to the tune of 750 yards and 13 TDs. Kyle Van Noy, LB BYU, would be the Lions 2^nd round pick. Van Noy would prove to be a late bloomer. He injured himself in his rookie training camp and would not make his debut until week 10. Van Noy would become an off and on starter for the Lions for the next few years before being traded to the Patriots for a 7^th round pick. From there, he would win a Super Bowl with the Patriots and became a difference maker for them. Travis Swanson, C Arkansas, would be the Lions 3^rd round pick. Swanson battled injuries his entire career, bouncing from the Lions to the Jets in 2018 and finally retired in 2019.

Summary: The class of late bloomers must be tough for Mayhew to look back upon. In hindsight, taking a Ebron instead of a bolstering that offensive line with one of the many Pro Bowlers selected a few picks later (Taylor Lewan, Zach Martin, Joel Bitonio) was a mistake. However, had Ebron had the 13 TD production for the Lions, things certainly could’ve been different. Van Noy and Swanson both were busts during their time in Detroit. It’s a shame they couldn’t keep Van Noy around long enough to see him blossom.

GRADE: D

2015: The Lions would finish 11-5 in 2014, heading to the playoffs for first time since 2011. They would lose in the Wild Card game however, making it their 8^th straight playoff loss (tying Kansas City for the longest postseason losing streak in NFL history).  The Lions were granted the 23^rd pick in the 2015 NFL draft.  They would trade that pick with the Broncos for guard Manny Ramirez, an extra 5^th round pick in 2016, and the 28^th overall pick. At #28, they selected Laken Tomlinson, G Duke. Tomlinson clearly didn’t work out. He would be traded to the 49ers a year later and be out of the league by 2018. Ameer Abdullah, RB Nebraska, was Mayhew’s 2^nd round selection. Abdullah would flash from time to time but never became the bell cow they wanted him to be. He was waived in 2018 after losing his role to rookie Kerron Johnson playing mostly special teams.  Alex Carter, CB Stanford, was the Mayhew’s 3^rd round pick in which they traded up to acquire. Carter became a practice squad journeyman who would never debut in an NFL game.

Summary: This would be Mayhew’s final draft class in Detroit and, unfortunately, it was a big dud. To be fair, the 2014 rookie class was one of the worst rookie classes in years. Yet, it still makes you wonder just how good this Lions team would have been if they had taken Frank Clark instead of Abdullah or Stephon Diggs instead of Carter.

GRADE: F

In conclusion, Mayhew certainly made the most out of his 1^st round selections, especially the early ones. Stafford, Suh, Ansah, Reiff, Ebron and even Fairley (for a year) were great selections. It is also apparent that he is not afraid to trade up in the middle rounds to select the player he believes in. Let’s hope that if he does, those 2nd and 3rd round selections (especially at the skill positions) are much more successful here in DC then they were in Detroit.

FINAL GRADE: C

It is finally draft season and this class of QBs is the most highly anticipated bunch in decade. With the abundance of open starting QB positions in the NFL this year, we will most likely see four QBs taken in the top 10 and possibly five or six in the first round! Without further ado, my 2021 rankings of QBs.

1. Trevor Lawrence (1st Overall): This ranking (and the 2021 draft really) start after Lawrence. The Clemson junior stands 6’6″ tall and weighs 220lbs. Trevor started as a true freshman where he won three straight ACC titles easily and took the Tigers to three straight College Football Playoffs. His freshman year is arguably his best year where he won the National Championship against Alabama in a thriller. His sophomore year, he took the Tigers to the title game again but lost to the buzz saw that was the 2019 LSU Tigers and their entire team of NFL draftees. His junior year ended at the hands of Justin Fields-led Ohio State Buckeyes who mauled the Tigers up front on both sides of the ball and made Lawrence look pretty pedestrian for his own standards (68.8% completion percentage, 400 yards, 2 TDs, 1 Int, 1 fumble). This led some talking heads to wonder if Lawrence is truly the QB1 of this class. Don’t fall for it. The Clemson junior is the only complete player in this draft. Lawrence truly has it all; he has great arm strength, accuracy, touch, toughness, pocket presence, and a good bit of athleticism to boot. Had he been able to be drafted last year, the Bengals would have had a tough decision to make and possibly have taken him over Joe Burrow! The only knock on Lawrence’s resume is he never won the Heisman Trophy. He will go first overall to Urban Meyer and the Jacksonville Jaguars where he will quickly ascend to a top 10 QB in the NFL.
   
2. Mac Jones (Top 10): The 6’3″, 213lb Alabama senior doesn’t have the athleticism as his peers do in this class but he makes up for it with pinpoint accuracy, great pocket presence, and a sharp mind. Jones had a wealth of talent around him on last year’s national champion Crimson Tide, including a Heisman winning WR (Devonte Smith), a running back that finished 3^rd in the Heisman, and an offensive line filled with NFL talent that provided him a cozy pocket more often than not. This led many to shrug him off and consider him nothing more than a game manager. However, when you put on the film, I’d argue Bama couldn’t have done it without him. Jones has the quickest release in the class and threw with impeccable timing and anticipation. He had such command of that offense that even when Waddle went down midseason, that record-breaking offense never skipped a beat. Throwing for 4,500 yards with a completion percentage of 77.4%, 41 TDs, 4 Ints in 13 games, Mac Jones is a pro-style QB who will be ready to start week 1 of next year. With both Smith and Waddle coming out and publicly stating they prefer Mac to Tua, I can see Jones going in the top 10 in this years draft. His lack of athleticism will not excite the fans of whoever drafts him but his accuracy will.
   
3. Justin Fields (Top 10): Justin Fields, standing 6’3″ tall and weighing 238lbs, was the consensus 2nd overall pick all season in this year’s draft until the Northwestern defense roughed him up. The Ohio State junior threw for 2,100 yards, 22 TDs and 6 Ints with a 70.2% completion percentage in the 8 games the Buckeyes played in this COVID-shortened year. Fields holds all the Buckeye’s passing records from his sophomore season and there is no doubt he would have broken his own records this year had they played more games. Fields benefitted from a great offense around him but he certainly made them better with his A+ arm strength and athleticism. Being a former baseball player, he can truly flick the ball 60+ yards down field while scrambling for his life. If there were a combine this year, I have no doubt that Fields would have had the fastest 40 time out of this QB class but alas we will have to speculate. What Fields lacks is that true pinpoint accuracy and, like most college QBs, struggles with pressure up the middle and in his face. The Ohio State offensive line was able to keep him clean all year up until he played the tough Northwestern defense who made him look like a middling prospect at best. His 6 TD performance against Clemson in the semifinals this year helped bring his stock back. Yet, in this year’s National Championship game against Bama, he once again looked like a project, throwing for 194 yards, 1 TD, a 51% completion percentage but rushing 6 times for 67 yards. Much like the rest of this class, he will need some time to develop in the right system to unleash his full potential but he will more than likely be forced to play before he’s ready given his draft pedigree. I can see Fields going anywhere from #2 overall to #19 overall but I’d be surprised if he fell out of the top 5.
   
4. Zach Wilson (Top 10): The BYU QB shot up the draft rankings this year where he made incredible plays all season long for the Cougars. Zach stands 6’3″ tall, weighs 210lbs and it wasn’t long before some analysts started comparing him to Patrick Mahomes. The junior certainly boasts a strong arm, probably the strongest in the class. He also might be the most elusive QB outside of Lance and has a knack for rushing for a TD when the chips are down. However, Wilson worries me. Put on the film of his only loss of the season against #18 Coastal Carolina, and you would be hard pressed to say if he was even the best QB on the field that day. The Chanticleers defense seemed to have his number all day, holding him to 240 yards, 1 TD, 1 Int, and a 63.3% completion percentage. What made it worse was how he looked like he was almost showing off most of the game, making odd underhanded throws and throwing the ball too hard at underneath receivers and at their feet, especially on 3^rd down. Out of all the QBs in this draft class, Wilson is the biggest boom or bust. That BYU offensive line mauled the weak defenses they played all year and allowed Wilson all the time in the world to scramble and improvise (where he made some his most spectacular plays, mind you). There is certainly a lot to like in his game. He finished the year with 3,692 yards, 33 TDs, 3 Ints, and a 73.5% completion percentage as well as 10 rushing TDs and 254 rushing yards as well! There are even a few analysts that consider him a better prospect than Lawrence and he certainly semes like the darling of this year’s class. That only worries me further. With the right offensive coordinator and offensive line, he could very well become a star. He will, most likely, go top 5 where he will be thrust into action early.  His improving will be on full display against NFL defenses are much tougher than the Troy/Western Kentucky’s that he dominated in college. Wilson has a lot of growing to do before he becomes the Mahomes 2.0 that some talking heads have anointed him as.   
   
5. Kyle Trask (2nd round): Kyle Trask had a fantastic year and was well on his way to winning the Heisman before losing a tough fought SEC Championship to the buzz saw Alabama Crimson Tide. The 6’5″ 240lb senior finished the season with 4283 yards, 43 TDs, 8 Ints and a 68.9% completion percentage. Trask was widely considered to be a first-round pick until he was benched in the bowl game against Oklahoma after throwing 3 picks in the 1st half and looking downright dreadful. Like Mac Jones, Trask had serious weapons to throw to all year in Pitts and Toney so it was that much more damning to his draft stock when they both sat out for the Cotton Bowl, causing him to struggle mightily. Trask was very good at times this past season but didn’t do anything spectacular. For every perfectly thrown touch pass up the sideline, there’s a ball thrown at Pitts’ feet 10 yards over the middle. He has all the size you look for in an NFL QB and a good arm to boot but he will need a few years to develop as a pro-style pocket passer if he is going to be anything more than a backup in the NFL.
   
6. Trey Lance (2nd round): Where Zach Wilson scares me, Trey Lance terrifies me. The North Dakota State junior stands 6’4″ and weighs 226lbs. He had an incredible sophomore year where he led the Bison to a FCS championship scoring 44 TDs (28 passing, 14 rushing) while not throwing a single interception. The dual threat QB did almost as much damage with his legs as his arm, rushing for 1,100 yards to go along with his 2,786 passing yards and a 67% completion percentage. He reminds me of Colin Kapernick the way he runs. He has impressive straight-line speed and the toughness to put his head down and fight for extra yards. He also boosts a cannon of an arm and could, very well, have the best arm strength in the whole class. Like Zach Wilson, he has a knack for making spectacular, off-script plays which led some analysts to consider him to be the next Russell Wilson. Due to the pandemic, his 2020 season was sadly canceled outside of one weird ‘showcase’ game against Central Arkansas. In this game, Lance’s lack of accuracy was on full display. He went 15/30 for 149 yards, 2 TDs and 1 interception and made some awful passes, sailing passes over wide open receivers and taking bad sacks. NDSU was able to win the ball game and Lance was able to show off his rushing ability going for 143 yards and 2 TDs. However, inaccurate QBs don’t last long in the NFL. Hopefully his one game this year was just an exception and not the norm. I can still see Lance going in the 1st round just on his potential alone but he will certainly need some time to develop. Many have linked Lance to WFT at #19 which would be a mistake.
   
7. Kellen Mond (2-3rd round): The Texas A&M 6’3″ 217lb senior finished this season with 2,283 passing yards, 19 TDs, 3 Ints, a 63.3% completion percentage and won Senior Bowl MVP. Mond started all four years for the Aggies and his play got better year after year as well. There is a lot to like about Mond but just as many concerns. For starters, he is listed as a dual-threat QB but his running ability didn’t show up on film. He doesn’t have a lot of vertical speed and his agility was no better than Kyle Trask’s in my opinion but he ran the read option well enough to keep the defense honest. He has an unorthodox passing stance and very questionable footwork. At A&M, he only took snaps from shotgun so he will need to learn how to work from under center in a pro-style offense and the footwork that goes along with it as well. However, he makes up for his deficiencies with a quick release, strong arm and had a knack for making the spectacular throws on the run, especially under pressure. He helped his draft stock tremendously at the senior bowl where he looked reasonably comfortable from under center and made some accurate passes under duress. I wish he would step into his throws a little more often. Some of his best throws are when he makes a quick decision and fires the ball into a tight spot 20 yards downfield. All in all, I like Mond. Under the right coach, he could become a starter in the NFL but if his footwork doesn’t improve, he will never be more than a backup.
   
8. Jamie Newman (3-4th round): Jamie Newman is listed as a 6’4”, 240lb senior Georgia QB but he never played a snap for the Bulldogs due to the pandemic. He was a two-year starter for Wake Forest where he was impressive on a beleaguered team. Newman has a good arm and throws a great deep ball. His accuracy was impressive at times but he missed on enough throws that might concern a coach.  On the positive, he didn’t run the ball all to often, but when he did he made defense pay, rushing 12 times for 180 yards and 6 TDs. The 2019 Wake Forest had a poor offensive line and when you put on the film, it’s worse than you can imagine so he’s most likely used to throwing under pressure by now. What also stood out on film was how comfortable Newman was going through his reads and finding the open receiver even though there are multiple times where his receiver falls in the route just as Newman is throwing, leading to an easy interception. I’ll add that WR Sage Surratt was a heck of a player and bailed Newman out his fair share as well but everyone else, not so much. Newman finished the 2019 season with 2,868 yards, 26 TDs, 11 Ints and a 60.9% completion percentage. Newman’s rust of taking a year off was on full display in the Senior Bowl where he fumbled his first snap and only completed a few passes past the line of scrimmage while being sacked what felt like every other play. There were rumors that Newman was the best QB at the Senior Bowl practices but it didn’t show up in the game. Newman will need a season or two to get used to the speed of the game again but I could absolutely see him becoming a starter and a late round gem like a Dak Prescott or Russell Wilson. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him taken early day 2.
   
9. Davis Mills (4-5th Round): Davis Mills is listed at 6’4”, 225lbs. The Stanford senior was a 5-star recruit and top of his recruiting class. He finished the 2020 shortened year with 1,960 yards, 11 TDs, 5 Ints and a 65.6% completion percentage in 5 games. There were some impressive throws on film but also some head scratchers. Watching his film reminds me of watching Nate Sudfelds film; he is a wow/ what player through and through. He certainly has all the tools to succeed but has far too small of a sample size. Stanford ran a pro-style offense with mostly vertical routes so he should fit right into a NFL offense.  He throws with nice touch and has an A+ arm, which can bail him out of trouble. However, he left a lot of plays on the field this year, missing badly at times and making questionable decisions. He certainly would have benefitted from another year but he’ll enter the 2021 draft as the premier late round ‘project’ QB. I’ll say he’s definitely worth a day 3, 5^th round flyer but I wouldn’t be surprised if he went early in 4^th due to the lack of viable QBs in the league right now.
   
10. Sam Ehlinger (5^th-7^th Round): Sam Ehlinger is listed 6’3”, 225lbs and started all four years for the Texas Longhorns. He finished the 2020 season with a 26 TDs, 5 Ints and a 60% completion percentage (6 points lower then his junior season). Ehlinger has a good bit of athleticism where he rushed for 377 yards and 8 TDs as well. He doesn’t have the best arm, below average at best, but he showed good accuracy at times and throws well on the run. He doesn’t shy away from pressure and showed the toughness you would like from your QB. However, like the other late round QBs, he missed on a lot of easy throws.  Sam proved he can play at the Senior Bowl and should become a valuable backup in the NFL.