Todd McShay projects Justin Fields outside the top 10 in latest mock draft
To paraphrase the late Rodney Dangerfield, Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields gets no respect. No respect at all.
Fresh off an appearance in the College Football Playoff semifinal where he threw for 385 passing yards with six touchdown passes in leading Ohio State to a win over Clemson, Fields now finds himself outside the top 10 in the latest mock draft by Todd McShay. The ESPN analyst has Fields going at No. 15 to the New England Patriots.
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Before McShay’s latest mock draft, most analysts thought Fields a top five selection and likely a good fit at second overall after Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence.
“OK, it’s time. And what a terrific outcome this would be for coach Bill Belichick. Fields fell to No. 15 here because we aren’t doing trades in this mock. There’s little chance he makes it this far down the board, especially after his six-touchdown performance in the Sugar Bowl quieted some big-game concerns. Someone will move up to get him,” McShay writes for ESPN in his latest mock draft.
“But what a nice fit Fields makes in New England. The Patriots tied the Giants for the fewest passing touchdowns in the NFL this season with 12, and New England joined the Broncos as the only teams with more interceptions thrown than TDs (14). Cam Newton, who was largely ineffective this season, will turn 32 in May and is set to be a free agent again. Jarrett Stidham doesn’t appear to be the guy, either. Tom Brady is no longer walking through that door, and it’s a different era for the Patriots’ passing offense. Fields would change that, with plenty of zip on his vertical shots and an ability to create when things break down.”
This year through seven games for No. 3 Ohio State, Fields has a 73.4 completion percentage with 1,906 passing yards and 21 touchdowns against six interceptions. He will get a big chance to change McShay’s mind on Monday night against No. 1 Alabama in the College Football Playoff Championship.
Fields had a hot start to 2020, not throwing an interception through the first three games of the season. But he also has had humbling moments, including two interceptions and just 114 passing yards in the Big Ten Championship Game against Northwestern.