Which quarterbacks were selected in the 2021 NFL Draft? Who were the teams that drafted them, and how does this class compare to previous years?
What quarterbacks were drafted in the 2021 NFL Draft?
Let’s take a look at the quarterbacks selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Trevor Lawrence, Clemson | Round 1, Pick 1 | Jacksonville Jaguars
There was little suspense surrounding the Jacksonville Jaguars’ selection of Trevor Lawrence. Since he was in high school, Lawrence had seemingly been on a path to be the top selection in the draft. During his college career, Lawrence threw for 90 touchdowns with 10,098 yards and 17 interceptions. He added a further 942 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns, demonstrating his dual-threat ability.
Zach Wilson, BYU | Round 1, Pick 2 | New York Jets
No other quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft had as dramatic a rise up draft boards in 2020 as Zach Wilson. The BYU quarterback came out of nowhere to cement himself as the second overall pick. He completed 73.5% of his passes in his final year with 3,692 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.
Following the Jets’ trade of Sam Darnold, Wilson will presumably be the starter for the Jets in 2021. His rookie season may prove to be a steep learning curve.
Trey Lance, NDSU | Round 1, Pick 3 | San Francisco 49ers
After much discussion around the San Francisco 49ers’ selection, they chose Trey Lance third overall. Lance played just one game in 2020 but posted impressive numbers as a sophomore in 2019. Lance threw for 2,786 yards with 28 touchdowns, leading North Dakota State to an unbeaten season and an FCS title.
Given his limited experience as a starting quarterback, Lance will likely start the 2021 NFL season as a backup. However, he could see the field as a rookie, thanks to his natural talent as a passer and runner. In his college career, Lance rushed for 1,325 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Justin Fields, Ohio State | Round 1, Pick 11 | Chicago Bears
The first trade during the draft itself was a move by the Chicago Bears for Justin Fields. The Bears gave up their first and fifth-round selections in 2021 and first and fourth-round picks in 2022. Fields threw for 5,373 yards, 63 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions during his time at Ohio State. Fields will now compete with Andy Dalton and Nick Foles for the starting role in Chicago this season.
Mac Jones, Alabama | Round 1, Pick 15 | New England Patriots
After months of speculation that the 49ers would select Mac Jones with the third overall pick, he ended as the fifth quarterback taken in the 2021 NFL Draft. Jones enjoyed an incredible 2020 season, throwing for 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. Jones is limited in terms of his rushing ability, having managed a total of just 42 rushing yards in his college career.
Kyle Trask, Florida | Round 2, Pick 64 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
There was significant debate surrounding who would be the sixth quarterback selected in the 2021 NFL Draft. After some discussion that Kyle Trask could be a first-round selection, he ended up being the final pick of the second round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Trask had a strong finish to his college career, throwing for 4,283 yards and 43 touchdowns with 8 interceptions.
Kellen Mond, Texas A&M | Round 3, Pick 66 | Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings selected Kellen Mond with the second pick in the third round. Mond endured an up-and-down career at Texas A&M, completing just 59% of his passes. He improved throughout his time with the Aggies, culminating in a 63.3% completion rate as a senior. He finished his college career with 9,661 passing yards, 71 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions.
Davis Mills, Stanford | Round 3, Pick 67 | Houston Texans
One of the biggest storylines leading into the draft was how high Davis Mills might rise up draft boards. Coming into the process a relative unknown compared to other names on this list, Mills received hype as a potential first-rounder during the draft process. Mills’ college career was somewhat brief, as he played in just 14 games, throwing for 3,468 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions.
Ian Book, Notre Dame | Round 4, Pick 133 | New Orleans Saints
Coming off a celebrated career as the quarterback of Notre Dame, Ian Book split opinions in the 2021 NFL Draft. Analysts saw his selection by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round as higher than expected. Still, after throwing for 8,948 yards, 72 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions in college, Book will now have an opportunity to compete for a role on the Saints’ depth chart.
Book also adds an element with his legs. For the Fighting Irish, he rushed for 1,517 yards and 17 touchdowns. That ability to attack teams on the ground and through the air will be highly valuable. Structuring things around Taysom Hill proved the Saints have a playbook in place for a versatile QB.
Sam Ehlinger, Texas | Round 6, Pick 218 | Indianapolis Colts
Sam Ehlinger is another highly celebrated college quarterback, having played four years at the University of Texas. The Colts took Ehlinger as the final quarterback selected in the 2021 NFL Draft. He enters a situation in Indianapolis where he can compete to back up Carson Wentz.
During his college career, he proved capable as a passer and runner. He threw for 11,436 yards with 94 touchdowns and 27 interceptions during his four years as a Longhorn. He also generated 1,903 rushing yards with 33 touchdowns during that period.
How many quarterbacks were drafted in 2021?
Teams selected a total of 10 quarterbacks in the 2021 NFL Draft. That is tied for the fewest quarterbacks chosen in a single draft since 2015, when only seven quarterbacks went off the board.
The 2021 NFL Draft is one of just three drafts since 2000 where 10 or fewer quarterbacks heard their names called. It is the first time since 1999 that quarterbacks were selected with the first three selections of the draft. It is also the second time in the last 20 years that five quarterbacks were selected in the first round — the other being in 2018.