Detroit Lions Draft Prospect: Quarterback Justin Fields
It still feels wired to say it out loud. Jared Goff is the quarterback of the Detroit Lions. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to it. 12-year signal-caller Matthew Stafford is now in Los Angles following a trade that involved Goff and a handful of draft picks.
It’s being reported that the Lions have a relatively favorable opinion of Goff and that he will indeed be the teams’ starter for the foreseeable future. However, with the way his inherited contract is structured, that may be only the next two seasons.
That widow of time could actually work out nicely for Detroit if they decide to look elsewhere for their quarterback of the future.
Elsewhere being: the 2021 NFL Draft. Currently, the Lions are in possession of the seventh overall pick, and there are some noteworthy quarterback options projected to go in the top ten. With the organization in a full-blown rebuild — excuse me, “re-tool,” selecting this team’s future leader should be something Brad Holmes and company are looking to do.
If Detroit did indeed use their first-round pick on a quarterback, the two-year window of Goff’s contract could allow a young guy to come in and play under the fifth-year signal-caller for a season or two to gain some experience at the professional level.
With that in mind, I’ve been doing some scouting and film study to see who might be the best selection for the Lions, depending on who’s available once they’re on the clock. We first looked Trey Lance out of NDSU, then Zach Wilson of BYU.
Today we’re looking at Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields.
Detroit Lions
Background
- Height – 6’3″
- Weight – 228lbs
- College – Ohio State
- Position – Quarterback
Ohio State’s junior quarterback, Justin Fields, is from Kennesaw, Georgia. He attended Harrison High School, where he was the teams’ starter for two seasons.
He totaled 4,187 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns, 2,096 rushing yards, and 28 rushing scores during his time at the school.
Rivals.com, ESPN, and 24/7Sports all rated Fields, a five-star recruit, as the highest dual-threat quarterback of the 2018 draft class.
Following high school, Fields originally committed to Penn State before deciding to attend the University of Georgia, which was within driving distance of his hometown.
Fields would play one season as a Bulldog, although his playing time was minimal. Before kicking off his sophomore year, he would transfer to Ohio State and immediately begin competing for the starting position. After two seasons as the Buckeye’s starter, Fields declared for the NFL Draft.