There’s no need to beat around the bush, Trevor Lawrence is potentially the most NFL-ready QB prospect any of us have ever seen. He’s tall, he’s strong, he’s smart, and my goodness can he throw the football.
For almost the entire NFL season, it seemed that Lawrence would end up in New York as a member of the Jets. But in typical Jets fashion, they were able to edge out a win, leaving the Jacksonville Jaguars with the #1 overall pick and the rights to Trevor Lawrence.
So what do the Jets do at #2? Do they look to move the pick for Deshaun Watson? Or do they look into the next tier of quarterbacks? What QB prospects makeup that next tier?
Let’s take a look:
1. Zach Wilson
NFL Player Comparison: Kyler Murray
Zach Wilson is a special football player. In BYU’s outstanding season, Wilson threw for 3,692 yards, 33 TDs, and just 3 interceptions. Wilson is a bit on the shorter side, listed at a very generous 6’3. Height shouldn’t be a problem for Wilson as his ability to evade defenders and move out of the pocket makes him a threat both through the air and on the ground.
My current projections have the Jets selecting Wilson at #2. New York has plenty to think about, including a potential trade for Deshaun Watson, so there is plenty of work to be done. That being said, If the Jets pass on Wilson, they may regret it for years and years.
2. Justin Fields
NFL Player Comparison: Dak Prescott
Justin Fields made a great case to be the first QB off the board after Trevor Lawerence with his spectacular 6 touchdown performance over Lawrence and the Clemson Tigers in the CFP semi-finals. Not only did Fields show talent but he also showed toughness, playing through a serious rib injury against one of the most dangerous defenses in college football.
Ranking Fields as the #3 QB in the class may seem a bit disrespectful but the fact of the matter is this is I cannot remember the last time there were 3 QB’s this talented all in the same draft class. If the Jets go with Wilson at #2, I’d have to say Atlanta and Detroit immediately become the two most likely spots for Fields.
3. Trey Lance
NFL Players Comparison: Combination of Deshaun Watson and Ryan Tannehill
Trey Lance is the wildcard QB of this draft class. Lance comes out of North Dakota State, the same school that produced Carson Wentz. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, NDSU was only able to play one game this year, a game people had been calling “The Trey Lance Showcase.” Lance played pretty well. He had to shake off a little rust but once he settled into the game, you can tell both the talent and leadership were there. In Lance’s last full season, the 2019 season, he threw for 2,786 yards, 28 touchdowns, and a mind-blowing zero interceptions. Lance could likely use a year to sit behind a veteran but he is without a doubt still worth a top-10 selection.
The most likely landing spots for Lance are the Lions at #7, the Panthers at #8, or even the 49ers at #13. The player comparison of Deshaun Watson and Tannehill may seem a bit all over the place but he really does resemble traits they both have. Like Tannehill, he is efficient and prefers to beat you down the field using his strong arm off of play-action. The Watson comparison gets added to the equation when Lance decides to use his agility to run downfield. Lance has the ability to use both quickness and pure strength to bully defenders downfield. He’s the total package, he just needs to land in the right spot.