SF 49ers NFL Draft: 5 prospects to watch in 2021 CFB Playoff
By Peter Panacy
SF 49ers NFL Draft Target No. 3: Quarterback Justin Fields, Ohio State
812. . Quarterback. Buckeyes . Justin Fields. 3. player
Out of all the players NFL teams will watch in the CFB Playoff, Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields is perhaps the best of them.
The reason he’s only ranked No. 3 on this list is that he’ll likely be long gone before the SF 49ers are poised to select in Round 1. Behind Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the almost-ensured No. 1 overall pick, it’s a bit of a three-way tie for the next signal-caller to be selected between Fields, BYU’s Zach Wilson and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance.
Unless the Niners are adamant about trading up for the 6-foot-3, 228-pound top-tier prospect, John Lynch and Co. may only be looking at Fields for entertainment value only.
That said, Fields could end up showing why he’s worth trading up for. Or there’s the possibility a bad game against the Crimson Tide could cause his draft stock to fall, perhaps in the range where San Francisco could be comfortable with a less-prolific trade-up.
Some could argue Fields, potentially being the latest product of a less-than-impressive program of Buckeyes quarterbacks flaming out at the pro level, might not be able to find that kind of success within the NFL.
Make no mistake, though. Fields can make every throw, has exceptional athleticism and has the dual-threat capabilities so prevalent among young quarterbacks today.
San Francisco should at least be modestly interested in those attributes.