Where Fields sits in 2021 QB class rankings ahead of Year 2 originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The beginning of July is the content nadir in the NFL. Rosters are more or less set and we’re just sitting around talking about workout videos waiting for training camp to begin or the world to end.
Whichever comes first.
So, it’s a perfect time to take a look at the vaunted 2021 QB class, what they did last season, the offseason buzz, and where I rank them heading into a critical second season.
1. Mac Jones
2021 stats: 67.6 percent, 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in 17 starts.
Jones entered the league as the most NFL-ready QB in the class and authored a stellar rookie season despite the limitations put on him by the Patriots’ offensive game plan.
After an excellent seven-week stretch in the middle of the season, Jones’ play dipped toward the end of the season. He threw the ball just three times in a December windstorm in Buffalo and followed that up with back-to-back two-interception games in losses to the Colts and Bills.
The Patriots’ season ended in a blowout loss in the AFC Wild Card Round to the Bills, in which it became apparent how much work Jones and New England’s offense must do to catch up to Josh Allen and the Bills.
Jones throws with great touch and anticipation, but the arm strength needs to increase if he’s to elevate his game.
As is an NFL offseason tradition, Jones got into excellent shape while appearing to ramp up the RPMs.
The Alabama product continues to impress his teammates, but the Patriots’ uncertainty at offensive coordinator (Joe Judge? Matt Patricia?!) could hamper his Year 2 development.
However, his rookie season was good enough to land him at No. 1 heading into training camp.
2. Justin Fields
2021 stats: 58.9 percent, 1,870 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 10 starts.
While Mac Jones might suffer from the loss of Josh McDaniels, Matt Eberflus’ hire of Luke Getsy as offensive coordinator should be a boon to the second-year signal-caller.
I went in-depth on why Fields is trending toward a breakout season here. The long and short of it is that Fields got better as the season went along, and Getsy’s offense, which promises to get him on the move and attack defenses deep, should be the perfect scheme to start Fields’ ascension.
Fields has to practice better ball security and be OK with getting rid of the ball quicker instead of always looking for the kill shot.
Last season, Fields was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL on throws outside the pocket and led the NFL with 138.5 passer rating on designed rollouts. Unfortunately, Matt Nagy elected to only roll Fields out of the pocket 19 times last season.
That should change under Getsy.
The Bears have issues at offensive line and need someone other than Darnell Mooney to become a reliable option in the passing game. But Fields showed enough in the second half of last season to believe big things could be in store for him in Getsy’s Shanahan-style offense.
3. Trevor Lawrence
2021 stats: 59.6 percent, 3,641 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions in 17 games.
Go ahead and flush last season for Lawrence. The Urban Meyer experiment was an unmitigated disaster in Jacksonville, giving the No. 1 overall pick …….