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Still slipping? Todd McShay explains why Justin Fields is falling in mock drafts
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Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields were always considered the top quarterback prospects heading into the 2021 NFL Draft. The Georgia natives were considered head-and-shoulders above the competition at the position.
Apparently that’s changed. Recent mock drafts have Lawrence still at the top, but have dropped Fields down in their outlook for the former Ohio State quarterback’s draft status. That includes ESPN’s Todd McShay.
In his latest mock draft, McShay had Fields listed as the No. 4 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. The three players in front of the Buckeye gunslinger? All quarterbacks.
Lawrence, Zach Wilson (BYU) and Trey Lance (North Dakota State) are slated to be selected in the Top 3 spots when April arrives. McShay explains why Fields is now considered the No. 4 QB in the draft.
“If you go back and study games against Indiana, Northwestern and in the College Football Playoff, national championship game against Alabama, he completed about 52% of his throws with five interceptions in those games,” McShay said on Get Up. “In my opinion, you look at him physically he’s big, he’s sturdy, he’s strong, he’s mobile, he’s got a big arm. He’s got all the traits that you look for. He likes to see his receivers come open and gets stuck on that first read very frequently.”
Fields ended his career at Ohio State with a 20-2 record as a starter, with his only two losses coming in the College Football Playoff. He finished the 2020 season with 2,100 yards through the air, 22 passing touchdowns and a 70.2 completion rate. Aside from his 6 interceptions — up from 3 a season ago — Fields was better in just about every statistical category.
But those three games McShay points out have been used against the talented QB in this year’s mock drafts. Will NFL scouts view Fields in the same light? We’ll have to wait a few months to find out.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB