On Thursday, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence became a rich man when he agreed to a five-year contract extension that will pay him $275 million.
He, along with the Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow, will now be the NFL’s highest-paid players in terms of annual salary.
However, Lawrence is the only quarterback from the draft class of 2021 who is doing well three years later.
Adam Schefter pointed out that the four other QBs that year who were thought to have potential have all switched teams since.
The 2021 QB draft class:
🏈No. 1 Trevor Lawrence: $275 million extension
🏈No. 2 Zach Wilson: Jets ➡️ traded to Broncos
🏈No. 3 Trey Lance: 49ers ➡️ traded to Cowboys
🏈No. 11 Justin Fields: Bears ➡️ traded to Steelers
🏈No. 15 Mac Jones: Patriots ➡️ traded to Jaguars— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 13, 2024
At the time, the 2021 draft class was thought to be dripping with tremendous potential, but while a number of players at other positions, particularly wide receiver, have done well, the quarterbacks in that group have mostly struggled.
Zach Wilson, the No. 2 pick, has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns since entering the league, and most now consider him a bust.
Trey Lance, who was taken one pick later, was tabbed as the San Francisco 49ers’ QB of the future after they traded lots of draft capital to be able to draft him.
But injuries held him back, and after Brock Purdy became what they hoped Lance would become, they traded Lance to the Dallas Cowboys for a mere fourth-round pick.
People had high expectations for Justin Fields, but he has shown little, if any, improvements, and the Chicago Bears have moved on from him and are now pinning their hopes on incoming rookie Caleb Williams.
Mac Jones failed to become the heir apparent to Tom Brady for the New England Patriots, and now Drake Maye is the man they hope will take them into the future.
It looks like the 2021 draft has become a cautionary tale in assuming too much about the future success of people who seem to have all the ability in the world.
NEXT:
Trevor Lawrence Ties Joe Burrow In Historic Financial Category
