2021 NFL Draft: Applying Bill Parcells’ quarterback rules to QB class
By Joel Deering
Justin Fields, Ohio State Buckeyes
- Be a three-year starter: No
- Be a senior in college: No
- Graduate from college: No
- Start 30 games: No (22)
- Win 23 games: No (20)
- Post a 2-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio: Yes (67:9)
- Complete at least 60 percent of passes thrown: Yes (68.4%)
Criteria met: 2/7
When it comes to the second quarterback off the board, Fields is the biggest competition to Wilson. Fields is a dynamic playmaker who can hit a big play at any time. He’s accurate (68.4% completions) and has a big arm to get the ball down the field. In addition to that, Fields makes a ton of plays with his legs. He totaled 1,133 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns during his college career.
Although Fields has a lot of things to like, he does come with questions. When it comes to Bill Parcells’ quarterback rules, Fields only meets two of the criteria. With that being said, most of the boxes he didn’t check off have to do with experience. His touchdown-to-interception ratio and completion percentage are great, but he’s not as experienced as some other guys in the 2021 NFL Draft.
He didn’t start, or play much at all, during his freshman year. On top of that, Ohio State didn’t play as many games this past season due to the pandemic. Give Fields another year as a starter, and he very likely would have met another three criteria.
Trey Lance, North Dakota State Bison
- Be a three-year starter: No
- Be a senior in college: No
- Graduate from college: No
- Start 30 games: No (17)
- Win 23 games: No (17)
- Post a 2-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio: Yes (30:1)
- Complete at least 60 percent of passes thrown: Yes (65.4%)
Criteria met: 2/7
Of all the quarterbacks in the 2021 NFL Draft class, Lance is the quarterback I have the most questions about. My biggest question is about how he’ll make the jump from lower competition to the NFL. There are quarterbacks who have been successful in making this jump in the past, but I’m always a little hesitant with quarterbacks who didn’t play at the highest level in college.
There are even more questions regarding this because Lance played just one game in 2020. In that one game, he only completed 50% of his passes (15 of 30) for 149 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Those numbers don’t exactly scream first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
To Lance’s defense, he did have a great 2019 campaign, throwing 28 touchdowns and no interceptions. He threw for 2,786 yards, completing 66.9% of his passes, while adding 1,100 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. I see why scouts see potential in Lance, but I’m still a little hesitant. I’ve seen Lance mocked in the first round several times, but if it were me making the call, I don’t know if I could pull the trigger on him that early in the 2021 NFL Draft.