NFL mock draft: Ranking the top 10 quarterbacks available

There is no position more important on any football roster than quarterback. For better or worse, they drive the direction of the team. And with each new year, a new draft class of college quarterbacks represents the opportunity for a franchise to turn its fortunes around.

Last week we took a look at the top 10 draft picks in the 2021 NFL Draft. Now let’s rank the top 10 quarterbacks in the draft.

10. K.J. Costello, Mississippi State

Costello had one of the highest highs of the irregular college football season, when he knocked off the defending national champion LSU and racked up an SEC record 623 passing yards.

That turned out to be the high water mark of his season, as he struggled to replicate his success and plummeted down draft boards.

That being said, Costello obviously has the size and arm strength, and has spent time with passing guru Mike Leach.

9. Peyton Ramsey, Northwestern

Ramsey was a gutty leader with a big arm during his time in college, and performed admirably, despite a lack of offensive talent around him.

He has the ability and willingness to use his feet to make plays, and while he doesn’t project to be a future star, he has competed against elite talent in the Big Ten, with inferior talent on his side of the field at both Indiana and Northwestern, and succeeded.

8. Jamie Newman, Wake Forest/Georgia

Newman will be an interesting prospect to watch, as he opted out of the 2020 season because of COVID-19 concerns.

Before he transferred to Georgia and opted out, Newman was a dual threat at Wake Forest. Because of his significant time away and limited playing time in college, he is a wild card.

7. Kyle Trask, Florida

The one-time Heisman favorite was hampered by an ankle injury to finish his season but has proven to be an effective pocket passer.

Trask doesn’t have the strongest arm, but he can make tight throws and reads the field well. He has good size and will get every opportunity to prove he is capable of making NFL-level throws on a consistent basis.

6. Kellen Mond, Texas A&M

Mond benefited from years with quarterback guru Jimbo Fisher. Fisher has a notable history making college quarterbacks into NFL draft picks, and Mond looks to be his next in line.

While Mond isn’t as accurate as Trask, he has a stronger arm and improved his accuracy in each of his four years at A&M.

5. Mac Jones, Alabama

Arguably one of the more underrated quarterbacks in recent college football history, Jones led one of the most prolific college offenses we’ve ever seen.

He embraced and excelled with complicated play calls from offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian and accurately distributed the ball to the myriad of weapons at Alabama.

On the right roster, Jones might be the perfect fit.

4. Justin Fields, Ohio State

Fields is the best athlete on this board, as the former No. 1 recruit has shown explosive power with his arm and legs.

While Fields still needs to refine some of his technique and decision making, he scares opposing defenses, and that’s a good trait to have in your starting quarterback.

3. Trey Lance, North Dakota State

In his redshirt freshman season, Lance completed 67% of his passes and threw for 2,786 yards, 28 touchdowns, and zero interceptions.

While he will have some dust to knock off, he is the youngest player available on the board and has tremendous potential.

Considering draft picks are often made on potential and not past results, Lance will continue to offer an appealing mystery to teams in need of quarterback help.

2. Zach Wilson, BYU

Wilson is this year’s gunslinger.

A fiery competitor with an intense motivation to improve, he developed from an undersized recruit to a potential top 10 pick in large part because of his work ethic.

Some have claimed he has a cocky, difficult attitude, but Wilson appears to evoke passion from his teammates. Don’t be surprised if Wilson becomes the talented quarterback from this year’s class that you love if he’s on your side and hate if he’s not.

1. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson

There isn’t a lot to say about Lawrence that hasn’t already been said. He is a national champion and a 6-foot-6, cannon-armed leader.

Lawrence compares to Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning as a prospect that everyone knows will make an impact at the next level and enters the league ready to compete and win.