The 2020 NFL Draft is over and teams are getting comfortable with their new draft picks. The next class of players is getting prepared now for another year of college football. Each position will be analyzed in the coming days. Here are the best 2021 NFL Draft prospects: Quarterbacks.
Note: Players will not be ranked in the article. This is best used as a watch list for the 2020 season.
K.J. Costello, Mississippi State Bulldogs
Costello could have left for the NFL after last season, but instead decided to grad transfer to Mississippi State. The 6-foot-5, 222-pound quarterback started his career at Stanford before becoming a Bulldogs and joining Mike Leach. He looks the part of an NFL quarterback and if he can produce in Mike Leach’s pass-heavy system, Costello can be selected in the first few rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft.
In his sophomore season at Stanford, Costello started getting playing time. He threw for 1,573 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions on 58.8 percent completion. As a junior, Costello passed for 3,540 yards, 29 touchdowns and 11 interceptions on 65.1 percent completion. He helped Stanford win nine games in each of those seasons. It was a down year for Stanford in 2019, as they won just four games. Costello was only able to play in five games due to injury and threw for 1,038 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions on 61.1 percent completion. A big year this season, could boost his draft stock.
Justin Fields, Ohio State Buckeyes
He started his career at Georgia backing up Jake Fromm, but transferred to Ohio State for his sophomore season. He is 6-foot-3 and 223 pounds, which is good for the NFL. His dual-threat abilities have already gotten the attention of the NFL. Another good season and he will surely be a first-round draft pick.
After being one of the best recruits in the country, he signed on with Georgia. In limited playing time behind Fromm, Fields threw for 328 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing for 266 yards and four touchdowns. He decided to transfer to Ohio State after the season where he took over as the starter right away. He passed for 3,273 yards, 41 touchdowns and three interceptions on 67.2 percent completion. Fields also rushed for 484 yards and 10 scores. His play helped Ohio State make the College Football Playoff. Now, Fields will be trying to lead them back and hold his draft stock this season.
Trey Lance, North Dakota State Bisons
Lance may not be as well known as the other draft prosects on this list because he plays in the FCS, but he can spin it. He is 6-foot-3 and 224 pounds, making him good size for the pro-level. Because he plays at the FCS-level, he has to show up week in and week out to protect his currently rising draft stock.
In his true freshman season, Lance threw one pass, which was complete for 12 yards. He received a redshirt for that season and returned as the team’s starter in 2019. Lance passed for 2,786 yards, 28 touchdowns and no interceptions on 66.9 percent completion. He also rushed for 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns as he led the Bisons to an FCS Championship. His ability to run and throw makes him a unique prospect to watch in 2020.
Trevor Lawrence, Clemson Tigers
Everyone knows that Lawrence is the next great quarterback prospect. He stands 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, which is the prototypical size for an NFL quarterback. The prodigy is currently projected to be the first overall pick and as long as things go well this season, that is exactly what is going to happen.
Lawrence took over the job from Kelly Bryant in the middle of the 2018 season. He had 3,280 passing yards, 30 touchdowns and four interceptions on 65.2 percent completion. His play helped the Tigers win the National Championship. As a sophomore, he threw for 3,665 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and eight interceptions on 65.8 percent completion. Clemson lost in the National Championship Game to LSU and will want to get back on top this season. Lawrence has a chance to win a championship and then be the number one pick, just like Joe Burrow.
Jamie Newman, Georgia Bulldogs
He started his career at Wake Forest, but Newman grad transferred to Georgia for the 2020 season. The signal-caller is 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, so he is well-built. There are still some areas of his game that he needs to clean up, but Newman will have the chance to prove himself at Georgia this year.
Newman threw four passes as a freshman, completing two for eight yards. He returned to play in six games as a sophomore. Newman passed for 1,083 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions on 59.6 percent completion. He rushed for 247 yards and four scores. In his junior season, Newman was a star for the Demon Deacons with 2,868 passing yards, 26 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions on 60.9 percent completion. He rushed for 574 yards and six touchdowns as well. Newman can really improve his draft stock and help Georgia this season.
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