2021 NFL Draft Quarterback Rankings: Daubert’s List
Before I begin, no I don’t have a crazy ego. I had to alter the title because Jeremy Rinaldi put out his QB rankings. I couldn’t copy the title or the post would look the same.
On the surface, this looks like the best quarterback draft class in my life. The 2021 NFL Draft might produce five legit starting quarterbacks, which has to be a first ever. Let’s get right to it. Here are your 2021 NFL Draft quarterback rankings.
2021 NFL Draft Quarterback Rankings
1: Trevor Lawrence (Clemson)
We’ve known Trevor Lawrence was going to be the number one pick in the 2021 NFL Draft for about eight years now. If you were to create a quarterback in a factory, he would look a lot like the Clemson signal caller.
He’s got everything you want. Lawrence checks in at 6-foot-6 with a rocket arm and pin point precision. He’s also a sneaky good athlete and can move a hell of a lot better than he gets credit for.
Lawrence increased his passer rating, completion percentage, and yards per attempt average every year in college. There truly isn’t a ton to say. He’s got everything you want in a quarterback. Lawrence lost two games in three years at Clemson. That’s not by accident.
This is the generational quarterback of the class. Turn in the card and don’t think twice. Congrats, Jacksonville. You got your John Elway.
High End: More athletic John Elway
Low End: Andrew Luck (Which isn’t a shot. Luck was fantastic and should have been a first ballot Hall of Famer. The Colts just failed him)
2: Justin Fields (Ohio State)
I’ve said for a while now that Justin Fields is the Deshaun Watson of the draft. I’m not quite sure where the nit-picking narrative comes from here, but it exists.
Here’s the perfect example. Before the draft, Bucky Brooks compared Deshaun Watson to Marcus Mariota for holding onto the ball too long and being fooled by different coverages…. Of course, it’s nonsense, but here people are doing it again with Justin Fields.
Justin Fiels is a baller. That’s all I know. He’s an explosive athlete and can make plays in and out of the pocket. He’s deadly accurate and might have the best pin point ball placement in the class. Don’t forget, Fields beat Trevor Lawrence at the Elite 11 camp and completed over 70% of his throws in 2020 at Ohio State. He can put the ball wherever he wants and takes big strikes down the field.
Two years ago, Fields had a 41-3 TD to INT ratio. What are we arguing about? You can see that Fields has that eye of the tiger to him. The Clemson performance in the Bowl game showed his toughness and ability to hit the deep ball. The pure arm strength is far from a concern.
The athleticism is off the charts. He’s going to be a dynamic runner at the next level. Fields is a prestigious athlete coming from Georgia. Best of all, Fields is bigger than Deshaun Watson checking in at 6-foot-3.
The crowd is overthinking this one. Don’t make the same mistake every team did when they let Watson slip down the board. Holding onto the ball too long is not a concern nor should it be something you evaluate a quarterback for.
High End: Deshaun Watson
Low End: Dak Prescott
3: Zach Wilson (BYU)
In most years, the third quarterback on the list isn’t much of a prize. In this case, the top four in my opinion all have the potential to become Hall of Famers. I’ll be the first to admit; Zach Wilson is a baller. I’m in love with a lot of the things he brings to the table.
Wilson has some Pat Mahomes to him. Wilson’s ability to throw off platform and create those arm angles should make every talent evaluator a little hard below the belt.
I think Wilson is a mix of Mahomes and Kyler Murray. If those two had a white baby that went to BYU, his name would be Zach Wilson. Wilson is sick with the arm angles but he can also throw darts deep down the field. They’re on time and on the money.
He’s not Lamar Jackson fast but Wilson can absolutely move and create time in the pocket. Outside the pocket, he’s great at keeping the eye level up and getting the ball to where it needs to be on the move.
Wilson also checks in at 6-foot-3 but looks a little slender for his height. He’s also been bashed for decision making and sometimes even fleeing clean pockets for no reason. I don’t think those are real concerns. Wilson’s raw tools are off the charts and has started at BYU since his true freshman year.
Wilson’s a rockstar. He’s got some swag to him and can make every throw. Teams should feel really good about taking him on draft day.
High End: Skinny Pat Mahomes
Low End: Slightly poor man Kyler Murray
4: Trey Lance (North Dakota State)
I’ll be the first to admit, I’ve seen very little of Trey Lance. I thought he brought it during the North Dakota State Pro Day. It’s crazy how athletic these quarterbacks are that are entering the league. Lance is probably the best pure runner of the group. He’s going to be a problem in the open field. He rushed for 143 yards in his one college game in 2020.
More so than anything, Lance needs more starts and experience. Being a one year starter and missing most of this year with the corona break hurts. Lance probably needs a year to sit and learn. Guess what? That’s more than okay. Let the man take his lumps. You idiots were convinced Josh Allen was no good either after two years.
The tools are all there for Lance. He’s got rocket fuel in that arm and completed 67% of his throws two years ago. Sure, it was very much a run first offense but throwing just one interception in your college career is no joke. Lance took care of the football and makes big plays with his arm.
Lance is also a smart quarterback. If the decision making didn’t speak to it, then calling his own protections as a one year starter should. Lance understands the game. Lance’s deep ball accuracy and ability to fire tight window throws stands out.
Lance could easily be higher on the list. The one year starter thing is just a red flag. That’s the way the cookie crumbles.
High End: Less rocketed up Josh Allen
Low End: Not prime version of Cam Newton
5: Mac Jones (Alabama)
Timing, touch, and anticipation. Mac Jones has the quarterback stuff down. How much does that stuff matter when trying to evaluate someone? Especially someone who doesn’t necessarily have all the tools like the other quarterbacks in the class? That right there is the Mac Jones debate.
The Alabama quarterback has average arm strength and below average athleticism. Jones has decent foot work in the pocket but isn’t going to pick up first downs with his legs. In a class with great athletes, it makes Jones feel inferior.
However, there’s no denying Mac can play. He’s had a Joe Burrow type rise. In fact, that’s sort of who he reminds me of. Just not the former basketball player Burrow is. Jones is cerebral and clearly feels more talented than past Alabama quarterbacks like AJ McCarron and Greg McElroy.
Jones had a remarkable year at Alabama. 41 touchdowns and 4 interceptions to go with a National Championship trophy is nothing to sneeze at. It’s also hard to separate the talent at Alabama to the ability of Jones. Are we sure he’s not a stronger armed version of Jake Fromm? Jones’ terrific Senior Bowl outing probably put that narrative to bed.
Good luck figuring this one out.
High End: Better less athletic Joe Burrow
Low End: Matt Barkley
6: Kyle Trask (Florida)
Kyle Trask had a great year. He proved he was better than Kyle Trash which is what I called him in 2019. A 43-8 TD to INT ratio in the SEC is a great year. So is a 14.2 yards per completion rate. Trask has an NFL body at a THICK 6-foot-5. Trask can make throws and has decent accuracy. Is he a legit starter at the NFL level? Probably not.
Florida’s offense took a massive step forward when he took over for Feleipe Franks. There’s no question he’s light years ahead of Franks. However, Trask has major issues.
The biggest downfall with Trask is the mobility issues. Trask is borderline statue level bad in the pocket. He’s not avoiding any sort of pressure. There’s no listed 40 time out there for Trask but I find it hard to believe he cracks the 5.0 mark.
There have been some to suggest Trask has poor arm strength. I think he gets a little bit of a bad rap here. I watched a number of Florida games. Trask’s arm power doesn’t look egregious the way Ryan Finley did at college. It might not be elite horse power but Trask can get the ball where it needs to be downfield.
Trask didn’t start for his own high school team. He’s been a bit of a late bloomer but it’s hard to imagine he’s now good enough to start for an NFL team.
High End: Matt Schaub
Low End: John David Booty
7: Davis Mills
I talked a bit about Mills in the last mailbag. Good luck finding tape on the guy. There’s not much to go off. 13 starts at Stanford with some ropes down the field and other boring moments full of nothing. I have no idea what you’re getting. Mills is a big time recruit mostly held back by injuries. He could be the diamond in the rough or nothing.
8: Zac Thomas
The first time I saw Zac Thomas was as a freshman against Penn State and Trace McSorley. There’s no question the freshman at Appalachian State was the better quarterback that day. Thomas has been on the radar ever since.
Thomas went 23-3 as a starter with one of those loses against the Nittany Lions. Thomas is super athletic and truly is a duel threat quarterback. When taking dart throws late in the draft, Thomas is about as good as it gets.
Thomas has those leadership qualities you look for and was an awesome time interviewing with us.
9: Kellen Mond
This is the point in the ranking where Kellen Mond comes in by default. Mond has no desirable traits you look for. His arm stinks, his decision making stinks, and frankly… he has no talent. I’ve done posts on him in the past. Go search for them. I’m not wasting my time.
10: Ian Book
Book is a decent athlete. That’s enough for him to make the 10 spot. Book got physically more mature and improved mentally at Notre Dame. Can he make NFL throws at a consistent level to be taken seriously? No.
