2021 NFL Draft: Key storylines, top quarterbacks to watch and more

Possible sleeper quarterbacks in 2021 NFL Draft

While Fields and Lawrence are expected to be the cream of the 2021 Draft crop, we should consider other quarterbacks who can give both men a run for their money this season. As Burrow was unexpected by most analysts before 2019, these quarterbacks could also come as a surprise for many this season as competition with Lawrence and Fields for QB1 in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Newly transferred Georgia quarterback Jamie Newman is a hot name right now, as the Bulldogs have the roster and coaching personnel to make the most of Newman’s final year of eligibility in 2020. The former Wake Forest quarterback had the chance to join the 2020 NFL Draft class but chose to stay on for one more season and round out a college resume that has been mixed so far.

Newman had a good junior season in 2019, passing for 3,959 yards and rushing for 574 yards. While Newman threw 26 touchdowns (including six rushing touchdowns), he also threw 11 interceptions and had a season completion rate of just 60 percent, according to Sports Reference.

A large part of Newman’s shortcomings in 2019 came in the latter half of the season, as Wake Forest went 5-0 in its first five games, only to drop seven of their next nine games. Newman’s numbers also slipped during that time. He threw 14 touchdowns in his first five games, only to throw six touchdowns in his last five games.

Last season, the Bulldogs had a great roster that went 12-2 and played in the SEC Championship game. Quarterback Jake Fromm didn’t hold the team back, per se, as he played 12 games in 2019 without throwing an interception. But Georgia used a run-heavy offense and didn’t seem to trust Fromm to win games with his arm downfield. Fromm only had three games in 2019 where he threw three or more touchdowns. Newman, who had a much weaker roster around him, had six games throwing three or more touchdowns.

With the Bulldogs in 2020, Newman will have a better roster to work with. But it’ll be up to him to show enough consistency week to week to compete for a top quarterback ranking in 2021.

Another quarterback to keep an eye on is Sam Ehlinger from Texas. He threw 32 touchdowns in 2019, which was just two short of the school’s all-time record. Like Newman, Ehlinger had a chance to declare for the draft in 2020 but chose to stay put for his senior season.

Ehlinger brings a lot to the table as a dual-threat quarterback in 2020. At 6-foot-3, 230-pounds, Ehlinger has the size and arm to impress NFL scouts this season. Since 2018, he has thrown 57 touchdowns and rushed for an impressive 23 touchdowns. Ehlinger has passed for over 3,200 yards the last two seasons and looks to have a competitive roster in 2020 to play for a Big 12 championship.

Heading into the 2020 NFL season, a plethora of dual-threat quarterbacks have earned starting jobs in the pros. NFL quarterbacks like Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray have shown general managers that a running quarterback can find success in the NFL. Whereas, only a few years ago a running quarterback offense was thought to be for college quarterbacks who weren’t accurate enough passers to win on a week-to-week basis.

How the 2020 NFL season plays out for dual-threat quarterbacks could have a major effect on where Ehlinger is drafted. If Allen, Jackson and Murray regress or don’t find success this season, there could be a contraction of general manager interest in 2021. But if they continue to win games in 2020, there will be a good chance more NFL front offices will be amenable to drafting a dual-threat quarterback like Ehlinger.

Like Newman, Ehlinger has consistency issues week to week and will need to prove in 2020 that he can play a more consistent game. His completion percentages were all over the map in 2019, maxing out at 85.2 percent in one week and dropping to 45.8 percent five weeks later.

If Ehlinger can continue to develop his downfield passing attack in 2020, there is no reason to think he couldn’t be in the top quarterback conversation. In 2020, Ehlinger will have the help needed to elevate the Texas offense as the last two recruiting classes have been very kind to the Longhorns. Since 2018, the college has recruited three five-star high school players and 30 four-star players. They ranked third in the FBS and first in Big 12 recruiting last year, according to 247 Sports.

Ten of the four and five-star recruits from 2019 play on offense and should be getting ready to see starting roles in 2020. With a solid cast of talent and an above-average quarterback arm, there is a good chance the Ehlinger has the roster to win a lot of games in 2020.

The third and final sleeper quarterback on this list is K.J Costello from Mississippi State. Originally a Stanford quarterback, Costello had a phenomenal 2018 season. Leading Stanford to a respectable 9-4 record (including a Sun Bowl victory), he finished 2018 throwing for 3,540 yards, 29 touchdowns to 11 interceptions, and a completion percentage of 65 percent, according to Sports Reference.

Unfortunately for Costello, he was injured after five games in 2019 and unable to finish his senior season. He transferred to the Bulldogs this offseason as a graduate transfer, ostensibly to play for new head coach Mike Leach.

Leach has a long track record of getting the most out of quarterbacks, as his pass-heavy offense will allow Costello to throw the ball as much as he wants to. Leach has produced multiple quarterbacks in the past who put up fantastic passing numbers. If Costello can produce against SEC competition, he could skyrocket up the 2021 NFL Draft boards.

His biggest task in 2020 will be to build upon his 2018 success without regressing in yards or touchdowns. This may be difficult against SEC defenses, as the conference fields some of the most impressive defenses in college football. But if Leach and Costello can find a way to continually outscore their opponents, there is a good chance the young quarterback will intrigue NFL decision-makers

But which college team will be most represented in the first round next year? To find out which team has the most projected first-rounders in the 2021 NFL Draft, click the link below. We’ll explore some of next year’s draft top prospects from this traditional SEC powerhouse.