Justin Fields – No. 7 overall pick to the Detroit Lions
What Kiper, Jr. says about Fields
Things change quickly in the NFL. Before the news on Saturday that the Lions were going to trade quarterback Matthew Stafford this offseason, I would have said that they should keep Stafford and try to help him with a wide receiver in this draft. Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle would have fit here. But instead it appears that new general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell will go all-in on a rebuild, and so Fields could be the face of it. He had an up-and-down season, but we saw the flashes of his talent, particularly in his six-touchdown performance against Clemson in the College Football Playoff semifinal. Fields has superstar potential, but he’ll need help around him. Detroit will need to figure out what it’s doing with free-agent wideouts Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr. and make sure Fields has a chance to succeed in Year 1.
We must remind you that it only takes one NFL type to fall in love with the potential of Fields. Remember too that Urban Meyer is now the head coach of Jacksonville. It’s unlikely Meyer will take the former OSU quarterback over Trevor Lawrence, but it is highly possible that Fields goes before Zach Wilson. We just don’t know, but we sure are excited to find out.
Also, aside from Fields, look for offensive guard Wyatt Davis to also sneak into the first round. We’re not sure why Kiper left him out, but he’s got a first-round grade by most scouts. Maybe Kiper knows something we don’t, or maybe not.
Ohio State football player 2021 NFL draft declaration tracker
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