2021 NFL draft profile: Ohio State QB Justin Fields
The 2021 NFL draft is right around the corner, and we’ve got all the nuts and bolts on this year’s top prospects.
Here’s everything you need to know about Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields:
Vitals
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Height | 6-3 Weight | 227 Class | Junior
The Good Stuff
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
What's not to love? Fields is a complete prospect who can make every throw from the pocket, can make big plays happen when things break down and he's forced to think on the fly, and he can make defenses pay with his rare speed and athleticism. His impressive arm talent allows him to deliver a catchable ball to every level of the field, with the right amount of touch or velocity required. Running a complex offense at Ohio State that featured plenty of option routes and complicated reads, Fields excelled at processing opposing defenses and finding the open man without bailing on the pocket too early and relying on his legs. He's proven that he knows when to stand in the pocket and take a shot in order to deliver the right throw, when to leave the pocket and extend the play without taking off just yet, and when to turn on the jets and burn defenders with his speed. To top it all off, his toughness and determination were on full display during his dominant performance against Clemson in the College Football Playoff, when he overcame a painful injury suffered mid-game to throw six touchdown passes and put the Buckeyes in the national title game.
Under Construction
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
If there's a flaw to be found in Fields' game, it might be his willingness to trust his arm strength a bit too much at times, forcing throws into tight windows instead of looking for a better option by extending the play of throwing the ball away to live another day. He always wants to make a play on every snap, and sometimes that can come back to bite him.
The Bottom Line
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Fields was the No. 2 quarterback in this class back in May, and he's done nothing but prove that true since. In any other draft class that didn't have a Trevor Lawrence, he Fields would be the easy choice to go No. 1 overall. He's got all the physical tools to be a franchise quarterback at the next level, but it's his combination of that talent and athleticism with the intelligence, instincts and intangibles that give him a chance to be a truly special player at the game's most important position. Fields should be the no-brainer pick at No. 2 overall, so if he goes any later than that, he'll be an absolute steal.
Projection: Top 5
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