NFL draft spot O/U: Best bets for Jones, Fields, Lance
Clemson's Trevor Lawrence and BYU's Zach Wilson are near locks to be drafted No. 1 and 2 overall, respectively, at the 2021 NFL Draft. After that, it's anyone's guess how the quarterback carousel will play out.
Mac Jones, Justin Fields, and Trey Lance will all find homes early next Thursday, but just how early? Oddsmakers set draft totals on all three quarterbacks, so let's dive into the hottest topic leading up to the event.
2021 QB draft totals
| Player | Draft Spot | Over | Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mac Jones | 3 | -700 | +475 |
| Justin Fields | 6.5 | +215 | -265 |
| Trey Lance | 8 | +170 | -210 |
Mac Jones
The Alabama product's been linked to the 49ers ever since the franchise traded up for the No. 3 pick. It'd take a miracle for Jones to be plucked before that, hence why the market's expecting his floor to be San Francisco.
Last season, Jones was PFF's highest-graded quarterback in college football history, and he finished third in Heisman voting. The 6-4 Jacksonville native would likely sit backseat behind Jimmy Garoppolo for a year, but he could flourish in head coach Kyle Shanahan's system.
There's not a lot of value either way at the current market price.
Justin Fields
Fields had long been perceived as the No. 2 quarterback behind Lawrence before Wilson's sudden surge. All Fields did last season was lead Ohio State to a national title appearance and throw 579 passing yards and seven touchdowns combined against Clemson and Alabama.
He's in play at No. 3, but it gets dicey thereafter. The Dolphins (No. 5) and Bengals (No. 6) are seemingly set under center, while the Falcons (No. 4) appear to have cooled on the idea of drafting Matt Ryan's replacement.
However, Fields seems like this draft's best-kept secret as so many other prospects gain traction. Whether the draft order remains the same or a team trades up - the Patriots and Broncos need quarterbacks - he'll be off the board by the time the Lions are on the clock at No. 7.
Pick: Under
Trey Lance
The dual-threat Lance is the toughest first-round quarterback to project. He has the size, athleticism, and arm strength to thrive in the pros, but the fact he started only 17 games - much less at North Dakota State - has created a dilemma within draft communities.
Lance will be rooting for Fields to go off the board sooner than later to stoke the quarterback market, but would the Broncos, Patriots, or another franchise push their chips to the middle of the table for an unpolished prospect?
The 49ers and Falcons both attended Lance's recent workout Monday, but that feels more like smoke than signal. The over 8 at +170 is a nice grab.
Pick: Over
Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.