2021 NFL Draft: Urban Meyer Ranks Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields

Urban Meyer will serve as the next head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The college football legend has waited patiently for years to make the jump to the NFL, and he appears to have found an absolutely perfect landing spot.

The Jaguars enter the offseason with the No. 1 overall pick in the looming 2021 NFL Draft due to their sheer terribleness, the No. 25 pick in the first round via the Los Angeles Rams, two more picks in the second round, and then seven picks sprinkled throughout the remainder of the draft.

Beyond that, Jacksonville also boasts more than $100 million in available salary cap space and can offer potential recruits the added financial incentive of living in tax-free Florida.

By any objective measure, Meyer is placing himself in a pretty strong situation. That said, a lot will hinge on how well he is able to harness 17 years of college football experience to identify talent.

One of Meyer’s first big decisions will involve who to take with the top overall pick in this year’s draft: Trevor Lawrence out of Clemson or Justin Fields out of Ohio State.

Meyer won one of his three career National Championships with the Buckeyes, but he never actually worked with Fields. Still, his Ohio State roots led to him having a better look at his skill set than most.

Back in June, while serving as a broadcaster for Fox Sports, Meyer took a moment to rank Lawrence and Fields.

“I had Fields and Trevor right next to each other,” he said at the time. “I put Trevor Lawrence for one reason, he played one more year. That was it. The one thing I’ll say about Justin Fields, because I’m very close to the situation, any concerns about him being a throwing quarterback are gone now. He’s developed, he’s outstanding.”

“I put Trevor Lawrence at No. 1 for one reason: he played one more year, that was it.”@CoachUrbanMeyer gives his Preseason Top 5 QBs and explains why he puts the Clemson QB ahead of Justin Fields. pic.twitter.com/Q0QnAvPExY

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) June 3, 2020

Obviously seven months have passed since Meyer made those comments, but little of substance has changed. Lawrence is still widely viewed as the superior talent given his legacy at Clemson, and it would be stunning if Meyer passed on him in favor of Fields. Plus, Lawrence’s fiancée seems like she’s open to going anywhere, so it’s unlikely that he will try to force his way to any particular team.

Barring something truly insane happening, the Jaguars will almost certainly take Lawrence with the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Who could’ve predicted that having a threesome with your brother could end so poorly. https://t.co/wifkDzyL6x

— Game 7 (@game7__) January 14, 2021

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Jennifer Withers Hoey

Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.