The New England Patriots’ recent decision to trade quarterback Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round pick serves as a stark reminder of the challenges teams face in evaluating and developing young quarterbacks entering the NFL.
The move is just one among several this offseason that shed light on the unpredictable nature of the 2021 quarterback draft class.
The class, touted as one of the strongest in recent years, saw five quarterbacks selected within the top 15 picks.
However, as the 2024 season approaches, it appears that only one of them, Trevor Lawrence, will continue with the team that drafted him.
The first-round quarterbacks from the 2021 class include Trevor Lawrence (No. 1 overall to Jacksonville), Zach Wilson (No. 2 to the New York Jets), Trey Lance (No. 3 to the San Francisco 49ers), Justin Fields (No. 11 to the Chicago Bears), and Mac Jones (No. 15 to the New England Patriots).
The “vaunted “ 2021 QB draft class:
#1 Trevor Lawrence.. still questions
#2 Zach Wilson..Jets want him gone
#3 Trey Lance… traded to Dallas
#11 Justin Fields..Bears may trade
#15 Mac Jones.. traded for a 6thBuyer beware. … the sure things are rarely sure
— trey wingo (@wingoz) March 10, 2024
While Lawrence has shown promise, the performances of his peers have been less consistent. Wilson’s underwhelming tenure with the Jets led the team to acquire Aaron Rodgers ahead of the 2023 season, to explore trade options for Wilson.
However, the expected minimal return in any potential trade echoes the Patriots’ recent transaction with Jones.
The 49ers, after trading three first-round picks to secure Trey Lance at No. 3, witnessed him lose the starting position to a seventh-round pick (Brock Purdy). Subsequently, they traded Lance to the Dallas Cowboys for a fourth-round pick before the 2023 season.
Even Justin Fields, chosen by the Bears at No. 11, faces an uncertain future as the team contemplates replacing him with the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft, Caleb Williams. This potential move, if pursued, is likely to yield an underwhelming return compared to the cost of acquiring Fields, which involved trading two first-round picks.
Despite Lawrence’s relative success, the NFL community is urged to exercise caution when evaluating the upcoming quarterback prospects in the 2024 draft.
As names like Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, J.J. McCarthy, Michael Penix, and Bo Nix are considered potential first-round picks, the unpredictable nature of player development in the NFL serves as a reminder that initial promise does not always translate to long-term success.
