Previewing NFL Rookie Quarterbacks
The 2021-2022 NFL season is just one day away, however, looking back a couple of months to the NFL draft might help people get caught up to date with different NFL team’s quarterback situations.
In this year’s NFL draft, the first round was action-packed with five prominent quarterbacks being selected from pick one to pick number 15.
The draft began with three quarterbacks being selected with the first three picks.
Despite being taken in the first round some quarterbacks might not see the field this season.
Trevor Lawrence
The number one overall pick was held by the Jacksonville Jaguars and they selected Clemson Tiger Trevor Lawrence.
The Jaguars believe they found their guy in Lawrence and they hope he can bring them to the Superbowl as just three years ago the team fell just five points short of reaching the big dance.
Lawrence was like a fantasy football pick in which you had the number one spot and didn't have to think about who you were taking.
Lawrence threw for over 3,000 yards in every season he played with the tigers as well as having a strong completion percentage that went up every year.
Replacing Gardner Minshew, Lawrence will be given the reins right away in the team’s first game against the Houston Texans.
Zach Wilson
The next quarterback to be taken in the draft just after Lawrence was Brigham Young University’s finest Zach Wilson.
As the second overall pick in the NFL draft, the pressure is high not just for Wilson, but for the New York Jets as well.
The Jets, after taking Zach Wilson had taken Sam Darnold only four years prior in 2018.
Wilson can be categorized as an undersized playmaker who is fast on his feet and strong in the pocket.
Sam Darnold being traded to the Panthers opens up the playbook for incoming Wilson who will have to deal with an offensive line that barely looks like their strong wall that was put in front of him at Brigham Young University.
Mac Jones
The final quarterback that will start week one is incoming New England Patriot Mac Jones.
Jones was selected 15th and was the last quarterback taken in the first round.
Jones entered the preseason in a battle for the starting spot with former MVP Cam Newton; however, the Patriots surprisingly released Newton just a week before the team’s first game, handing over the playbook to Jones.
Jones inherits a team looking to rebound after finishing last season with a 7-9 record.
The Patriots and Bill Belichick are hoping to see more of a Tom Brady-like playstyle from the Alabama alumni as the team returns to a normal playstyle versus the playbook it had with a mobile quarterback like Newton.
Trey Lance
Trey Lance, the former North Dakota State Bison, was taken third overall by the San Francisco 49ers.
The last big-name quarterback to come out of North Dakota State is now Indianapolis Colt Carson Wentz.
Lance is hopping into a system run by coach Kyle Shanahan but he has different talents than the current quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo who will start this year.
Garoppolo was plagued by injury last year causing him to only play in eight games.
Lance has a different style of play closer to Aaron Rodgers with his strong Arm and mobility which will be something Shanahan has to think of when deciding who to start midway through the regular season.
Justin Fields
Although Fields is in his name, Justin Fields will not see the field to start the season.
Fields was selected 11th overall by the Chicago Bears who have been struggling to find a consistent quarterback over the past few seasons.
After drafting Mitch Trubisky in the 2017 NFL draft, the team has struggled to find consistent quarterback play from him as well as Nick Foles, who backed up Trubisky.
Not only did the Bears acquire Fields this offseason, but the team also signed former Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton.
Fields is coming off an incredible season, where he led the Ohio State Buckeyes to an upset victory over the Lawrence lead Clemson Tigers in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, it would seem that Fields would have the starting job locked up.
However, Dalton is set to start the season and Fields is prepared to learn from the veteran quarterback until it is his time to shine.
Andrew DelSignore is a second-year student majoring in journalism. To contact him, email him at Andrewdesli1420@gmail.com.
