Who are the NFL teams most likely to target a quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft?
When the 2021 NFL Draft rolls around next April, there will certainly be plenty of quarterback talent worth getting excited about. It all starts with Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who has been the logical No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft for at least two years. Lawrence is a tremendous quarterback prospect who has all of the physical skills needed to be a star at the next level.
Closely behind Lawrence is Ohio State’s Justin Fields. Fields is not quite as polished as Lawrence, but he has an incredible combination of arm talent and raw athleticism that will play at the next level. North Dakota State’s Trey Lance will also be in the top-tier conversation, but his level of competition is always going to be at least somewhat of a concern.
Lawrence, Fields and Lance will likely be at the top of the class, but as we have seen in recent years, top-tier quarterbacks can come from seemingly out of nowhere. Look out for guys like Georgia’s Jamie Newman, Oklahoma State’s Spencer Sanders and Florida’s Kyle Trask when it comes to this conversation. I also would not count Iowa State’s Brock Purdy and Minnesota’s Tanner Morgan out as possible first-round picks in the 2021 NFL Draft.
When it comes down to it, the 2021 NFL Draft is going to be loaded with interesting quarterbacks at the top and throughout the class. Whether teams are looking for a can’t miss franchise guy early or a mid-round prospect with some long-term upside, there will be plenty of interesting quarterbacks to keep an eye on.
In this post, we are going to look at the NFL teams who could be looking to target these quarterbacks in the 2021 NFL Draft. There are some obvious additions to this list, but also some teams that are a bit under-the-radar.
Note: This list is not a ranking of teams that will need a quarterback the most. There are teams with a more obvious need at the position than others, but this list is simply done alphabetically.
Chicago Bears
Current QB Depth Chart: Nick Foles, Mitchell Trubisky
The Chicago Bears are one of the most obvious teams to put on this list. Their decision to take Mitchell Trubisky over Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes in the 2017 NFL Draft could hold the franchise back for an extremely long time. Trubisky looks like a major draft bust, which forced Chicago to bring in veteran Nick Foles over the offseason.
Foles is the favorite to be the Bears’ starting quarterback in 2020, but it is unlikely that he cements himself as the real long-term answer for the team at the position. The Bears are extremely likely to be looking for a quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft and could take one extremely early if the 2020 season does not go according to plan.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Current QB Depth Chart: Tom Brady, Blaine Gabbert, Ryan Griffin
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are moving forward with the great Tom Brady as their starting quarterback. Brady signed a two-year free-agent contract with the team over the offseason and will come in and immediately make them legitimate contenders in the NFC.
As great as Brady is, he just turned 43-years-old. The Bucs clearly expect Brady to be their starting quarterback for the next two seasons, but he is obviously a short-term fix at the position. When the 2021 NFL Draft rolls around, Tampa Bay must at least consider bringing a new quarterback into the mix. In this scenario, the young quarterback gets a year to learn under Brady and likely takes over for the legend following the 2021 season.
Indianapolis Colts
Current QB Depth Chart: Philip Rivers, Jacoby Brissett, Jacob Eason
The Indianapolis Colts are moving forward with veteran Philip Rivers as their starting quarterback for the 2020 season. Rivers could easily have some success in the upcoming season, but at 38-years-old, he cannot be considered any sort of long-term option for the team.
The Colts did take Jacob Eason in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Eason is a high-upside talent who was often considered a possible first-round pick throughout much of the draft process. That being said, he is still a fourth-round pick who could easily be off of the roster by this time next year. Unless Eason shows a ton of promise as a rookie, I fully expect the quarterback position to be a major position of interest for the Colts in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Current QB Depth Chart: Garnder Minshew, Mike Glennon, Joshua Dobbs
Minshew Mania is back in full force in Duval this season. After trading Nick Foles over the offseason, the Jacksonville Jaguars are moving forward with Gardner Minshew as their franchise quarterback, at least for the 2020 season.
Minshew showed impressive playmaking ability last season and certainly has a chance to grow into a stable presence at the position. That being said, his overall upside at the quarterback position is relatively limited.
The Jaguars are unlikely to be a good team in 2020 and will probably have a high pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. If they find themselves in a position to snag one of the top-tier quarterbacks, they simply will not be able to pass up the opportunity. Minshew is fun but adding a guy like Lawrence, Fields or Lance would immediately reshape the direction of this franchise. The Jaguars are undoubtedly a team that will be watching these quarterback prospects closely.
Carolina Panthers
Current QB Depth Chart: Teddy Bridgewater, Will Grier, P.J. Walker
Teddy Bridgewater signed a three-year free-agent contract with the Carolina Panthers over the offseason and is set up to be their starting quarterback in 2020. Bridgewater is a solid quarterback, but I do not know if he is good enough to make Carolina legitimately competitive this season.
The Panthers appear to be taking a long-term approach, building a young and talented team for new head coach Matt Rhule. Bridgewater is the guy for now, but if the Panthers end up holding a high pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, quarterback will undoubtedly be on the radar. I do not see Carolina messing around with any mid-tier guys, but if they are in a position to snag Lawrence, Fields or Lance, they will not hesitate to bring in a new franchise quarterback.
New England Patriots
Current QB Depth Chart: Cam Newton, Jarrett Stidham
Before the Cam Newton signing about a month ago, the New England Patriots would have been the most obvious team to put on this list. With all due respect to Jarrett Stidham, he was always unlikely to be an adequate starting quarterback for the Pats. Adding Newton is a low-risk, high-upside move that immediately raises the Patriots’ ceiling for the 2020 season. That being said, Newton is far from guaranteed to be a success in New England.
Newton could easily continue to struggle with injuries with the Patriots and put together a less than stellar 2020 season. If this happens, the quarterback position will likely be on the Patriots’ radar in the 2021 NFL Draft, no matter where they end up picking.
Las Vegas Raiders
Current QB Depth Chart: Derek Carr, Marcus Mariota
How much longer will Jon Gruden and the Las Vegas Raiders go forward with Derek Carr as their franchise quarterback? The Raiders are starting to put together a strong roster filled with young talent, but their ceiling is always going to be limited with Carr under center.
He simply does not trust his arm enough to push the ball down the field and has a long track record of mediocre play. Carr is not a terrible starting quarterback, but he is not the kind of guy who can lead the Raiders to legitimate success. If the Raiders have an opportunity to land a top-tier quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft, they should jump on that chance immediately. This team just might be a quarterback away from making a big-time run.
New Orleans Saints
Current QB Depth Chart: Drew Brees, Jameis Winston, Taysom Hill
Last, but not least, we are going to take a look at the New Orleans Saints. The 41-year-old Drew Brees signed a two-year contract this offseason and is extremely unlikely to play past the 2021 season. Do not even be surprised if Brees hangs it up after the 2020 season.
The Saints signed Jameis Winston to a free-agent contract this offseason and if he comes in and impresses, Winston could end up taking over this job. That being said, we know that Winston has his flaws. Will he really be able to impress enough in practice on a one-year deal to prove to the Saints that he deserves to take over for Brees?
The Saints are a team with few major holes across the roster. If they feel like a potential franchise quarterback is available when they go on the clock in the 2021 NFL Draft, New Orleans should jump on the opportunity and fill their major need.