Final 2021 NFL Draft quarterback rankings: Trevor Lawrence and then what?

The first three picks in the 2021 NFL Draft will likely be quarterbacks as it is almost guaranteed the Jacksonville Jaguars will take Trevor Lawrence with the first pick and the New York Jets will select Zach Wilson with the second pick. All signs point to the San Fransico 49ers taking a quarterback with the third pick overall as well, although who they take still remains a question.

Overall, we will likely see five quarterbacks drafted in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. It is also likely that at least seven quarterbacks will be drafted on the first or second day of the draft as both Kyle Trask and Davis Mills will go on the second day of the draft.

In this post, we start our final position rankings and breakdown of each position in the draft. We start off by picking a quarterback for each of the following categories which are most overrated, most underrated, day three gem, biggest risk, and top small-school quarterback. Each quarterback is then ranked and assigned a draft grade.

Most underrated quarterback in 2021 NFL Draft: Kyle Trask

A prospect who was earning first-round buzz and was widely regarded as a better quarterback than Mac Jones in the middle of the season was Kyle Trask. Unfortunately, his draft stock took a nosedive at the end of the season due to a horrible bowl game. However, he is still a player with starting level talent as he displays good accuracy, touch and overall smart play on the field.

Most overrated quarterback in 2021 NFL Draft: Mac Jones

While there is no doubt that Mac Jones had a terrific season last year, there is plenty of doubt about how he will transfer to the NFL. On the positive side, he has great accuracy and makes the proper reads consistently. On the downside, though he is an average athlete who really struggles when forced to move from the pocket. This is not the type of prospect you trade away three first-round picks, for which the 49ers might have done if they take him with the third pick.

Day three gem in 2021 NFL Draft: Jamie Newman

To be honest, the 2021 NFL Draft quarterback class does not have a ton to offer on day three of the draft, especially if Kellen Mond goes on day two. The only quarterback who will be drafted on day three who might turn into an eventual starter is Jamie Newman, but in order for that to happen, he is going to have to go to the perfect situation.

Quarterback that is the biggest risk in the 2021 NFL Draft: Davis Mills

There are two things that make Davis Mills a risky prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft. The first one is that he has battled knee injuries throughout his high school and college career. The other issue is how many interceptions he has thrown and that when faced with pressure he will just throw the ball up for grabs. Despite those issues, Mills has the arm strength and overall potential to be worth the risk in the second round.

Top small school quarterback in 2021 NFL Draft: Trey Lance

The top small-school player in the 2021 NFL Draft is Trey Lance by a wide margin. He is ranked as the 15th best player in the 2021 NFL Draft, and the second-best small school is ranked as the 59th best player in the draft. What stands out with Lance is his impressive 2019 season, how athletic he is, and how much he was asked to do mentally in North Dakota State’s offense.

2021 NFL Draft Quarterback Rankings

1. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (first round)
2. Zach Wilson BYU (first round)
3. Justin Fields Ohio State (first round)
4. Mac Jones, Alabama (first round)
5. Trey Lance North Dakota State (first round)
6. Kyle Trask, Florida (second round)
7. Davis Mills, Stanford (second round)
8. Kellen Mond, Texas A&M (fourth round)
9. Sam Ehlinger, Texas (fifth round)
10. Shane Buechele, SMU (sixth round)
11. Jamie Newman, Georgia (sixth round)
12. Feleipe Franks, Arkansas (seventh round)
13. Brady White, Memphis (seventh round)
14. Ian Book, Notre Dame (seventh round)
15. Levi Lewis, Louisiana (free agent)
16. Zac Thomas, Appalachian State (free agent)