The Jacksonville Jaguars find themselves back in a familiar spot once again, picking in the top five of the 2021 draft. The Gardner Minshew experiment was fun while it lasted but it’s time to finally get the quarterback position solidified with the selection of Trevor Lawrence out of Clemson.
Lawrence has all the tools you look for in a franchise quarterback with elite size and arm talent. In addition, he has a winning pedigree, and the added dimension of today’s quarterback with the ability to run and extend plays with his legs.
The plan in Washington is to continue to build around Dwayne Haskins, and after another dismal 2020 season, they find themselves picking at No. 2 overall. There will be some temptation to select another Ohio State quarterback in Justin Fields, but Haskins is still a young developing quarterback, and Ron Rivera and his staff believe Haskins deserves one more year before moving on.
The best thing you can do for a young quarterback is to get him a stud left tackle to protect his blind side. Penei Sewell from Oregon has great size, length, and athleticism. He will be a lock to go in the top five.
A.J. Green isn’t getting any younger and he has battled injuries in the latter part of his career. The Bengals placed the franchise tag on him this offseason but could certainly look to move on from him after the 2020 season.
Why not bring in a familiar face for new franchise quarterback Joe Burrow in Ja’Marr Chase, the 2019 Biletnikoff award winner who was a teammate of Burrow’s at LSU. The chemistry between the two is unquestioned after their magical run to the national championship together, and the hope is that continues in Cincy.
The Carolina Panthers picking fourth overall signals that the decision to move on from Cam Newton in favor of Teddy Bridgewater did not get off to a get start in year one. The Panthers are on the hook for $40 million guaranteed in the first two years of Bridgewater’s contract, but that doesn’t stop them from selecting their future franchise quarterback in Justin Fields.
Fields might remind some of Cam Newton with his physical build, but he is a much better thrower of the football than Cam. Carolina head coach Matt Rhule cannot resist picking Fields here, as he looks to set his franchise up for the long run.