Free agency is, for the most part, complete, with just a few big names such as Jadeveon Clowney still without a contract. With the NFL Draft approaching, the big talk is on the quarterbacks. While I think we could see anywhere from six to eight quarterbacks taken this year, I believe there are only four ready to start year one. In this article, I have ranked QBs by how much impact they will make in year one.
- Zach Willson – BYU
I think Wilson is going to be the most successful QB in year one. He is not a running QB, but he is athletic enough to make plays with his feet if he needs to. He has an excellent touchdown to interception ratio of 11:1, and I think he can make an immediate impact for whichever team takes him. If he falls to the Niners at 3, I would be lying if I said I think they aren’t a Super Bowl contender. Willson could be a Mahomes-esque player.
- Trevor Lawrence – Clemson
Lawrence is the best QB in the draft, no doubt about it. He should and most probably will be the #1 overall pick. However, I highly doubt he will be able to quickly turn the Jaguars into a contender. Lawrence was really struggling against Ohio St., and it made me wonder if he can win games when he’s 1 or 2 scores behind in the fourth quarter. He’s had the luxury of being at the #2 school in the nation, and I don’t think he’ll be able to adapt to having a less than par team. While I think Lawrence will go on to have a very successful NFL career, I think it will take some time to get used to the NFL.
- Mac Jones – Alabama
Mac Jones is part of an almost extinct breed of quarterbacks. He is a pure, strong-arm-QB with absolutely no mobility. Ten years ago, Jones would have looked like the best QB on the board. However, with smarter defenses, QB mobility is a major need. Very few QBs with low mobility have had success in the last 3-4 years. I think if Jones goes to a team with good pass protection and a decent run game, he could thrive. The Steelers seem like a perfect fit, but I doubt he’ll still be on the board.
- Justin Fields – Ohio State
Justin Fields is the high-risk, high reward option. If he grows well, he’ll be a top QB similar to Russell Wilson or Deshaun Watson. If he doesn’t, he could end up similar to Jameis Winston. I think Fields’ success depends on where he lands up. Like Zach Wilson, I think the Niners are the ideal fit for Fields, as he will enter a team that already has a solid run game, and Fields will not have to throw the ball 30-40 times, which would cut down on the opportunity for mistakes. If he lands with a team like Pittsburgh, I doubt he’ll be consistent enough to have any kind of success.
That’s it for this article. If you disagree with these predictions or have comments on the draft, let me know in the comments section.
