By Lance Zierlein NFL Analyst Draft Projection Round 1 NFL Comparison Dak Prescott Overview Like Dak Prescott before him, Fields enters the league with dual-threat capabilities but is more of a pocket passer with the ability to extend plays or win with his legs when needed. He was up and down in 2020, but a bounce-back performance against Clemson -- including an impressive second half after suffering an injury -- said a lot about his toughness and leadership. He sees the field fairly well inside the Buckeyes’ quarterback-friendly offense but needs to become a full-field reader and prevent his eyes from becoming transfixed on primary targets. He sticks open throws with accuracy and velocity thanks to a sturdy platform and good drive mechanics. He’s also comfortable throwing into intermediate holes of a zone. A slower operation time and a lack of a twitchy trigger will require him to work with better anticipation and pressure recognition pre- and post-snap. He takes more sacks than coaches will be comfortable with but he also digs his way out of holes and creates explosive plays. Fields operates with a quiet confidence and has experience overcoming adversity. He should continue to improve and become a solid NFL starter within a couple of seasons. Strengths
Toughness/willingness to do what it takes is always on display. Never lost a Big Ten game as a starter. Vast improvement in 2020 with fumbles per snap. Good size with stout lower body to stave off sacks/tackles. Lateral footwork to side-step downhill blitzers. Usually finds a firm, sturdy passing base beneath him. Plenty of zip for long, field-side throws. Attention to drive mechanics generates velocity when needed. Makes quality reads when deciphering high-low concepts. Confident and comfortable throwing into intermediate zone windows. Willing to take a big hit to deliver a pass. Good command and accuracy on boot action to the right. Keeps defenses honest with his legs. Picks up tough yards on the ground when team needs it.
Weaknesses
Needs to improve pocket mobility for clean launch points. Below-average feel for edge pressure, running himself into pressure points. Field vision is average in face of the blitz. Missed open blitz beaters in the middle of the field against Indiana. Gradual operation time prevents expedited release. Needs to release ball earlier on anticipatory throws. Needs to improve eye manipulation as a pro. Stagnant eyes invite coverage to the passing party. Forces receivers to slow for deep throws. Pet spin move as runner got him clocked against Clemson.
Sources Tell Us
"He was inconsistent (in 2020), but I’m not going to hold it against him. We teach (quarterbacks) to read coverages and concepts, but they need to have innate leadership and poise, and we have to determine if he has those qualities." -- Personnel executive for NFL team
Conf Big Ten - East Jersey #1 Class Junior HT 6'3" DOB 03/05/1999 WT 223 lbs
ANALYST'S REPORTS Crabbs
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Justin Fields projects as a franchise quarterback at the NFL level — he offers the blend of throwing ability, athleticism, stature and clutch play that will cause NFL teams to fall in love with his evaluation, even if his 2020 campaign showed some cracks in his play. Fields' ability as a passer is top shelf when accounting for his natural delivery and how easily he's proven to be able to throw around defenders or work himself into generating velocity and accuracy when on the move; the Buckeyes embraced rolling pocket with Fields at quarterback to take advantage of his arm strength and the subsequent access he'll get to all areas of the field as a passer. Fields will kill man-coverage heavy teams with his legs; he's big, strong and yet still quite dynamic as a runner — so breaking contain and converting third downs with his legs is a large staple of the conflict Fields is capable of putting you into as a player. There's also plenty of examples of Fields successfully engineering option-based reps in the mesh point between zone read, RPO concepts and extending even to sparing use of the speed option, giving his NFL coordinator the full bag of tricks to create conflict defenders and isolate them in the game plan. It's what Fields has largely done best. There are instances of overconfidence in his arm and continuing to quicken his process beyond the first read is a needed point of emphasis for Fields to stay "on schedule" and keep his sack totals down, but that is inevitably going to be part of his game that his pro team will have to be ready to live with in the same way it it true for quarterbacks like Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson and others. Their play can be a double-edged sword at times and so it will be for Fields, who is every bit as physically gifted as those previously mentioned named passers. Fields will need to arrive to a destination that embraces his ability to win with his legs and the QB run game or else run the risk of a bumpy road early on as a starting NFL quarterback; but if he is paired with a head coach or offensive coordinator who can pull the best parts of his college game and implement them in the NFL, Fields has the potential to splash early.
Ideal Role: Franchise Quarterback
Scheme Fit: Hybrid Spread/West Coast Offense with QB power run dynamics
Bears draft Justin Fields: Fantasy Football impact, Dynasty outlook, scouting report, advanced stats, more Could Justin Fields be the second-best (or even THE best) QB in the 2021 draft class? Chris Towers By Chris Towers & Dave Richard 20 mins ago 6 min read justin-fields.jpg Robin Alam/Getty Images
Justin Fields might have as much upside as anyone in the 2021 NFL Draft not named "Trevor Lawrence." The Bears recognized this and pulled the trigger on a trade with the Giants to move up to No. 11 and select their hoped-for franchise quarterback. He has difference-making skills, but the question is, will he get the opportunity to make a difference as a rookie?
Rated a consensus five-star prospect out of Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Ga., Justin Fields eventually took his dual-threat capabilities to Ohio State after committing to Penn State, then changed his mind and spent his first year at Georgia. With the Buckeyes, Fields was a two-year starter who led them to a combined 20-2 record and two berths in the College Football Playoff.
On the strength of 51 total touchdowns in 2019, Fields collected big-time accolades including first-team All-Big Ten, the Big Ten Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year and the Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year. He was also a Davey O'Brien Award Finalist and a Heisman Trophy finalist then and was the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and Quarterback of the Year in 2020.
We're breaking down everything you need to know about Fields from a Fantasy manager perspective, including best fits, dynasty outlook, measurables, scouting report, key stats and an NFL comparison.
Scouting report Strengths
Good-sized quarterback with strong build. Regularly shed blitzers and tacklers thanks to the combination of agility and power. Very good, polished, consistent footwork that helped provide a solid base on his throws. Navigated the pocket well, stepping up when the space was there and moving around when it wasn't. Has poise in the pocket and usually did a very good job keeping his eyes downfield when climbing and when the pocket collapsed. Understood the basics of pre-snap reads and reacted accordingly. Also had a terrific play-action fake and pump fake to get linebackers and safeties off-balance. Did a good job of looking off safeties to make an easier throw to the sideline. Worked mostly out of shotgun but had a handful of under-center snaps. Arm strength is very good, allowing him to make any and every throw. Constantly goes for and frequently wins on far-sideline tosses and deep throws. Passes have traveled as far as 50, 51, 56 and 61 yards in the air. Generally had very good accuracy both in the pocket and on the move. Routinely hit slants, sidelines, curls, digs, posts, fades and deep balls. Fields threw best in rhythm. Mobility is a huge asset. Not only can Fields run RPO or navigate a pocket and move out of it with ease, but his excellent improvisational skills helped him frequently take broken plays and turn them into quality gains. Fields is a passer first, but he has good speed, acceleration and burst when he does take off. He's also willing to get physical to convert a first down or score a short-yardage touchdown. Eighty percent of his rushing scores came from 10 yards or closer at Ohio State. Should fit right into RPO and zone read concepts with the potential to handle a West Coast offense by his rookie season. Managed plenty of choice routes with his top receivers at Ohio State. Tough and competitive. Took a massive hit versus Clemson, writhed in pain on the turf, and missed one play. Also played through a thumb injury versus Clemson (six touchdowns). Praised for his leadership by former coaches Urban Meyer and Ryan Day. "He's taken over the locker room," Meyer said last December.
Concerns
Had a tendency to hold onto the ball too long and stared down receivers, leading to plays breaking down and defenses getting to Fields. This specific issue may have magnified other issues below. Typically navigated the pocket well but would sometimes get flustered and lose momentum when he got knocked around by pass rushers. Games against Alabama, Northwestern and Indiana all had spurts of Fields playing poorly once defenses started to hit him. He was already the 11th-most blitzed quarterback in college last season, and NFL defensive coordinators figure to blitz him heavily upon his arrival. Threw what seemed to be designed/predetermined passes most of the time. Perhaps this was because the coaches knew he would hold the ball too long otherwise. There's evidence of him finding a second option, but it's not consistent. Fields seems intelligent -- can he quickly master the art of reading defense coverages after the snap? Mixed bag in terms of awareness -- sometimes he saw defenders and stoically stood in pocket and delivered a money throw, sometimes he completely missed a defender and got hit. Especially didn't see unblocked front-four defenders. Would sometimes not see or pass up easy short-area throws to take a chance on a deeper one. Some would work out, others would get picked off. Fields has to be a little more willing to play it safe. Sometimes had an elongated throwing motion on middle-of-field throws. His accuracy would be affected. Occasional "drifty" footwork might annoy some coaches, but rarely did it seem to impact his accuracy or arm strength.
Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State – NFL Draft Player Profile
Amidst highs and lows, Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields has become an enigma of the 2021 NFL Draft, but his talent makes him hard to deny.
By Ian Cummings
Published March 30, 2021
Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State - NFL Draft Player Profile What's in this article? Click to show
At his best, Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields had some wondering if he could steal the 2021 NFL Draft QB1 mantle from Trevor Lawrence. At his worst, he had some wondering if Zach Wilson and Trey Lance could overtake him. Where does Justin Fields fall on the draft board after his 2020 season? Under the guise of continuous change, did his projection stay the same? Get the PFN 2021 NFL Draft Guide! The free PFN 2021 NFL Draft Guide includes scouting reports from Tony Pauline, a big board with over 850 players, team fits, sleepers, and more. Click here to download for free! Justin Fields NFL Draft Profile
Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 228 pounds Position: Quarterback School: Ohio State Current Year: Junior
Tony Pauline’s Justin Fields Scouting Report
Positives: Big-armed passer with the ability to make all the throws. Patient in the pocket, keeps his eyes downfield, and takes the safe underneath outlet if nothing else is available. Sells ball fakes, remains poised under the rush, and buys as much time as necessary for receivers. Elusive, keeps plays alive, and easily gets outside the box to elude pass rushers and make the throw on the move.
Possesses a next-level arm, puts speed on all his throws, and loses nothing passing on the move. Displays a sense of timing, drives the deep throw, and delivers some outstanding long passes. Throws the ball 50+ yards with speed and spin, perfectly placing it in the receiver’s hands. Legitimate threat running the ball, showing the ability to pick up yardage with his legs. Tough and plays while injured.
Featured | NFL Draft Prospects 2021: Pauline’s updated big board, player rankings
Negatives: Does not always find the center fielder, which results in interceptions. Slow to process and at times slow pulling the trigger. Stares down the primary target.
Analysis: From the point of view of physical skills, Fields grades as highly as any quarterback in this draft and has the strongest arm of any of the top quarterbacks. He also struggles with his reads and is slow to process what’s happening on the field, which is a red flag. Fields absolutely has starting potential at the next level and could lead a franchise, but he will need the right coach who is able to match the mental skills with his physical ability. Justin Fields Player Profile
Justin Fields didn’t have to wait to become a giant on the college football stage. Hailing from Kennesaw, Georgia, Fields was the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2018 recruiting class. Fielding offers from dozens of teams, Fields signed with the Georgia Bulldogs, and immediately sparked a quarterback controversy with incumbent starter Jake Fromm.
Fromm had been the starter in the previous season, leading the Bulldogs to the national championship game as a true freshman. However, many felt that Fields offered more upside than Fromm and possessed the capacity to elevate a Georgia offense that looked stagnant at times under Fromm. Entering the transfer portal
Despite the excitement surrounding Fields, head coach Kirby Smart chose to stick with Fromm in 2018. Fields was relegated to the backup role. Battling high expectations, Fromm and the Bulldogs would go on to lose the Sugar Bowl, prompting more calls for Fields to start in 2019. But Fields would ultimately transfer to Ohio State, making that discussion moot.
The Buckeyes were a good fit for Fields. Ohio State needed a new quarterback, as Dwayne Haskins opted to enter the draft as a redshirt sophomore, and Joe Burrow, another past signee, transferred to LSU in 2018. Fields immediately filled a massive void for the Buckeyes, and Ryan Day’s offense enabled Fields to catch fire. Justin Fields’ career as the latest Ohio State quarterback
In a normal year, Justin Fields might have won the 2019 Heisman Trophy. Fields was electric in his first year at Ohio State. In 14 games, the sophomore completed 238 of 354 attempts for 3,273 yards, 41 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. He also added 484 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground for good measure.
Fields’ efforts helped the Buckeyes win the Big Ten Championship, which granted them a spot in the College Football Playoffs. Fields would lose against Trevor Lawrence and the Clemson Tigers, but his breakout season would not go unnoticed. He won Big Ten Player of the Year, and also finished third in Heisman voting, behind Joe Burrow and Jalen Hurts. Fields’ 2020 season a tale of two halves
Fields came into the 2020 season with sky-high expectations, and at first, he surpassed even those. In his first three games, Fields completed 72 of 83 attempts (86.7%) for 908 yards, 11 touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Fields seemed completely unflappable, and his early efficiency set him apart as a quarterback prospect.
As the year went on, however, Fields faced tougher competition, and his imperfections began to show. In the final three games of the regular season, Fields completed just 47 of 81 attempts (58%) for 613 yards, four touchdowns, and five interceptions. Ohio State managed to survive the late-season stretch without a loss, but Fields’ inconsistency hurt them at times.
In spite of his late struggles, Fields was again named Big Ten Player of the Year. The Buckeyes edged out Northwestern in the Big Ten title game. Additionally, the Ohio State quarterback exacted his revenge on Trevor Lawrence in the Buckeyes’ win in the CFB Playoff Semifinal rematch. Fields ends his Ohio State career on a high note
Even though the Buckeyes didn’t leave with a National Championship, Justin Fields alleviated some growing concerns with his performance in the CFB Playoffs.
In the Semifinal matchup against Clemson, Fields rekindled some of his early-season magic. He threw for 22 completions on 28 attempts, amassing 385 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception. He also ran the ball for 42 yards on eight attempts. The game was almost perfect for Fields, who proved he could take over against top-tier defenses. But in the process, Fields suffered a hip pointer, which clouded his outlook for the championship game.
Justin Fields’ showing against the Alabama Crimson Tide
Fields decided to push through the pain and play in the National Championship against Alabama. Although he clearly wasn’t 100 percent, Fields still competed to the end. He completed 17 of 33 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown, and also ran for 67 yards on six carries.
The Ohio State quarterback displayed tremendous toughness and leadership ability battling through his injury, and he also had moments of impressive execution. On one long pass to Jeremy Ruckert, Fields used his eyes to freeze the safety, then delivered a fast-paced strike to the middle of the deep range. On various other occasions, Fields went through his progressions, and used his arm talent to fit the ball into tight windows and buckets, mixing pace and touch with ease.
Fields completed his eight-game junior campaign with 158 completions on 225 attempts, 2,100 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and six interceptions. There’s still some obscurity over where Justin Fields will rank among his NFL Draft counterparts. However, he adequately rebounded from a lull down the stretch, and he clearly has the talent to go high in the first round. Full body of work key in pinpointing Justin Fields’ 2021 NFL Draft projection
There are a lot of snippets of anecdotal evidence that could reflect poorly on Fields when used in isolation. His struggles late have been concerning. There are times where Ohio State’s offense enables him to survive without making full reads. And many have made note of the uninspiring track record of Buckeyes quarterbacks in the NFL.
However, as is always the case, scouting the helmet only gets you so far. It’s true that Ohio State has a long line of disappointing NFL prospects, dating back to players like Dwayne Haskins, Cardale Jones, Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett, and Terrelle Pryor, among others. But looking at his traits, Justin Fields is easily a better draft prospect than all of them.
Where players like Haskins and Jones lacked athleticism, Fields has it in spades. And where players like Miller and Pryor lacked passing skill sets, Fields has that, too. Fields is a stellar physical talent; he’s densely built at 6-foot-3, 228, and yet, he’s an explosive runner, as evidenced by his 4.44 40-yard dash time at his pro day. Fields can gear up and evade with impressive ease. He’s also much better than Trey Lance when it comes to preserving himself as a runner. Fields has talent as a passer but can improve in key areas
As a passer, Fields is almost just as talented. His throwing motion could be more compact, but he can generate great amounts of velocity, and he can also push balls into specific windows to throw open his wide receivers. On some occasions, he can leave room for better trajectory, but in the early goings of the 2020 season, he showed tangible improvements using touch to drop the ball in deep pockets.
Fields is a capable passer and playmaker. The biggest issue in his draft profile lies in his decision making under pressure.
As many noted during his performance against Northwestern, Fields’ internal clock in the pocket can be unreliable. While he has the skills to evade and extend plays, there are times where he can work himself into a box by waiting too long to manipulate the pocket or roll out. Whether this is due to processing speed, indecisiveness, or a desire to wait for the big plays to open up, it’s something Fields needs to work on in the NFL because that volatility might be compounded against NFL defenses.
With that being said, Fields has shown the ability to make full reads in certain games, and his athleticism allows him to actively reset plays by evading pressure and manipulating throwing angles. He has the foundation you want for a young quarterback against adversity, and as he continues to strengthen his comfort level, he should see growth in areas of concern. Justin Fields’ best fits in the 2021 NFL Draft
Justin Fields has long been regarded as the No. 2 overall pick behind Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence. Had he remained on his early-season pace, he might have locked himself into that slot. But Fields’ suspect performances against Northwestern and Indiana fractured the consensus opinion. Some argue that Zach Wilson, while moderately inferior to Fields from a traits perspective, has better innate feel, processing against pressure, and off-script ability, and they might not be wrong.
Even so, Fields shouldn’t fall outside the top 10. Fields’ natural talent is still in the upper echelon, and like other quarterbacks, he’s a highly-regarded team leader who should bring the right mindset to the NFL stage. He also shows the necessary processing capacity to grow and fully hone his elite physical traits. For that reason, there should be very little reservations around taking him at the top of the draft.
There were qualms during the offseason that Fields too often stared down his first read on tape. Further reports suggested that Fields was slipping down draft boards. However, upon further review of Ohio State’s offensive scheme, it was found that the Buckeyes heavily employ WR option plays. This means that on each play, the WR had to choose how to break at their stem, based on the situation. Consequently, Fields had to wait until the WR made their decision, before he made his. This kind of information puts Fields’ performance into context, and only makes his success more impressive. Where does Fields best mesh early in the draft?
Some analysts have marked Fields down over the course of the offseason, but on my board, he’s still QB2, and he’s holding strong. After his pro day, there’s no denying his elite physical skill set. Jacksonville is almost certain to draft Trevor Lawrence, and the Jets seem to be honing in on Zach Wilson. But after those two picks, anything is fair game for Fields.
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The 49ers would present an enticing fit for Fields, as his physical traits would play into Shanahan’s RPO concepts and misdirections well. The Falcons would also be an excellent match. Atlanta’s new head coach Arthur Smith helped engineer a career revival for Ryan Tannehill, and could build an imposing, versatile offense with Fields as his centerpiece. Beyond those teams, the Lions, Panthers, and Broncos could all consider Fields as well. However, it’s doubtful he drops far in the top ten. There’s tangible growth that needs to take place for Fields. But the Ohio State quarterback is a good investment to make. In the modern NFL, quarterbacks who can create plays are becoming more valuable. In spite of his inconsistencies, Fields has that skill set. That should endear him to teams and give him a chance to buck the Buckeyes trend.
Typically navigated the pocket well but would sometimes get flustered and lose momentum when he got knocked around by pass rushers. Games against Alabama, Northwestern and Indiana all had spurts of Fields playing poorly once defenses started to hit him. He was already the 11th-most blitzed quarterback in college last season, and NFL defensive coordinators figure to blitz him heavily upon his arrival.
I hope the Bears can give him the pass protection he needs to be successful here.