Ever since his stellar freshman season at Clemson, it’s seemed a forgone conclusion that quarterback Trevor Lawrence would be the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft as soon as he was eligible.
But what if someone else takes the top spot next April?
That’s what happens in the latest 2021 NFL mock draft from Bleacher Report, which has Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields knocking Lawrence off the top of the mountain, landing at No. 1 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Lawrence falls to No. 4 overall in this projection, heading to the Carolina Panthers after Washington takes Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell, and the Cincinnati Bengals add Joe Burrow’s former LSU teammate, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Lawrence would have to be considered a huge steal at that point, and it’s hard to imagine Washington passing on a quarterback if they’re still picking that high after two years of Dwayne Haskins under center.
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The next quarterback comes off the board at No. 7 overall, where the Detroit Lions pull the trigger on North Dakota State’s Trey Lance. Just a reshirt sophomore, Lance would be in a perfect situation in Detroit, able to sit behind an experienced veteran in Matthew Stafford for at least a year before having to take over the starting job.
The only other quarterback to make the cut in this first-round mock is Georgia’s Jamie Newman, a transfer from Wake Forest who heads to the Chicago Bears at No. 14 overall to end the failed Mitchell Trubisky era in the Windy City.
To check out the full mock draft at Bleacher Report, click here.
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