From the moment Justin Fields arrived at Ohio State more than two years ago, he had his sights set on becoming one of the top picks in the 2021 NFL draft.
“I think I made more of a business decision and Coach Day, he’s been in the NFL so he knows what it takes to get there,” Fields said when he asked why he chose to become a Buckeye during his first interview at Ohio State in February 2019. “He knows what it takes to get quarterbacks to the NFL. And just the offensive mind he has, I can he’s a smart guy. So that’s why.”
Asked later that morning if his goal was to get to the NFL as soon as he could, Fields answered: “It’s really all in God’s plan, but I hope I can get there as soon as I can. But it’s really all up to his plan.”
NFL Draft Info
When: Thursday at 8 p.m. (Round 1), Friday at 7 p.m. (Rounds 2-3), Saturday at noon (Rounds 4-7)
Where: Cleveland, Ohio
TV: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes
Radio: ESPN Radio, SiriusXM NFL Radio, Westwood One
Ohio State Draft Coverage: Eleven Warriors
That plan should come to fruition on Thursday night.
After two seasons at Ohio State in which he went 20-2 as a starter, was a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and accounted for 78 total touchdowns in just 22 games, Fields will officially become an NFL player during Thursday’s first round of the draft.
He might not be picked quite as early as some initially projected. He’s not expected to be one of the top three picks on Thursday night, when the Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to draft Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the New York Jets are expected to draft BYU quarterback Zach Wilson and the San Francisco 49ers are expected to draft either Alabama quarterback Mac Jones or North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance.
Fields shouldn’t have to wait much longer than that, though. The Atlanta Falcons could potentially be a candidate to draft him with the No. 4 overall pick. The Detroit Lions (No. 7 overall), Carolina Panthers (No. 8) and Denver Broncos (No. 9) are other teams that could consider drafting him in the top 10. The New England Patriots (No. 15), Washington Football Team (No. 19) and Chicago Bears (No. 20) are other teams with top-20 picks who could trade up to draft Fields if he starts to slide at all.
As is usually the case for a top quarterback prospect, though even to an unusual degree in this case, Fields has faced lots of scrutiny in the months leading up to the draft. Beyond simple criticisms of his game, Fields has also faced questions about his work ethic – even though he was consistently praised for his leadership and dedication during his Ohio State career – along with the public revelation that he has epilepsy, a medical condition he had kept private before it was leaked last week.
What’s undeniable is Fields possesses a rare combination of arm talent and athleticism, while his Ohio State career showed plenty of examples of his toughness and ability to make winning plays, highlighted by his six-touchdown performance despite an injury in the Buckeyes’ College Football Playoff win over Clemson last season. There may be legitimate questions and risk factors NFL teams need to weigh as they consider whether they should draft Fields, but his former Ohio State coaches adamantly believe the team that drafts him will be happy it did.
“He’s an unbelievably talented player, but I believe he’s an unbelievably gifted young man,” Ohio State offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said last week. “He’s going to have a phenomenal opportunity to be a great pro player … the way he’s managed everything since he’s been here, he’s been a great teammate, been a great team leader, he’s a tremendous player, he’s a man I have a lot of respect for.”
Fields vows to make sure that the NFL team who drafts him won’t regret it.
“I know my work ethic is unmatched, and just my dedication and my passion to wanting to be great is another level,” Fields said after his first pro day.
If Fields doesn’t become the second Ohio State quarterback in three years to be drafted in the top 15 picks, joining 2019 No. 15 overall pick Dwayne Haskins, that would be a big surprise. He’ll likely be the highest-drafted Ohio State quarterback since Art Schlichter was the No. 4 overall pick in 1982, since Haskins is the only other Buckeye signal-caller who’s ever been drafted in the first round.
Outside of Fields, Thursday’s first round could be an atypically quiet one for Ohio State compared to recent seasons. The Buckeyes have had at least two first-round picks in each of the last five drafts, but Fields is the only former Ohio State player who’s widely projected to be a top-32 selection in this year’s draft.
There’s always the possibility of a surprise, of course. Most people weren’t expecting Damon Arnette to be a first-round pick last year, and it wouldn’t be a total shock if Pete Werner, Baron Browning or Wyatt Davis snuck into the late first round.
Most of Ohio State’s prospects in this year’s draft, however, will likely get their call from the league on Friday or Saturday.
| LB TUF BORLAND |
| LB BARON BROWNING |
| P DRUE CHRISMAN |
| DE JONATHON COOPER |
| G WYATT DAVIS |
| TE LUKE FARRELL |
| QB JUSTIN FIELDS |
| K BLAKE HAUBEIL |
| TE JAKE HAUSMANN |
| LB JUSTIN HILLIARD |
| C/G JOSH MYERS |
| WR C.J. SAUNDERS |
| RB TREY SERMON |
| DT TOMMY TOGIAI |
| CB/S SHAUN WADE |
| LB PETE WERNER |
Browning, Davis, Werner, Josh Myers, Tommy Togiai, Shaun Wade and Trey Sermon are all among the prospects who could be selected during Friday’s second and third rounds and shouldn’t come off the board any later than Saturday’s fourth or fifth round. Justin Hilliard, Jonathon Cooper, Tuf Borland, Luke Farrell, Drue Chrisman and Blake Haubeil are also candidates to be selected during Saturday’s final four rounds of the draft.
For all of them who are fortunate enough to be among the 259 players selected in the seven rounds that will play out over the next three days, it will be a dream come true and the accomplishment of a goal they have been working toward since they were children.
“I know that phone call is gonna hit different,” Wade told Eleven Warriors last week.
Their paths to this point haven’t always been easy, but through the combination of talent that got them recruited by Ohio State and the hard work they put in while they were in Columbus, all of them are likely to either be drafted by NFL teams or signed as undrafted free agents by the end of the day Saturday.
“It’s special to be in this position I am, just because I know everything I’ve been through,” Hilliard, who spent six years at Ohio State after missing multiple seasons with injuries, said after Ohio State’s pro day. “But one of the reasons I was able to push through all that adversity was because I never lowered my goal when I was injured and not on the field. I saw myself as working to be the best linebacker in the country, and so I’m gonna keep that mentality moving forward.”
Regardless of where each Buckeye ultimately ends up, Ohio State coach Ryan Day will be proud to have yet another large contingent of players heading into the NFL and representing the scarlet and gray in the league.
“These guys, they do everything the right way,” Day said after Ohio State’s pro day. “And what kind of value each NFL team puts on them, that’s their business, that’s up to them. But I know that they’re going to have great careers in the NFL, I have no doubt about that.”
Ohio State has had at least seven players drafted in each of the last five drafts – the second-longest streak behind only Alabama – and it should easily hit that mark once again this year. The Buckeyes appear likely to have double-digit draft picks for the second year in a row, and Ohio State could potentially have the most draft picks of any school, considering that all of the 14 aforementioned Buckeyes were invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, more than any other college team.
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Former Ohio State backups C.J. Saunders and Jake Hausmann also participated in last month’s Ohio State pro day with hopes of playing in the NFL. While they’re long shots to be drafted, they will hope to sign with teams after the draft as undrafted free agents.
Thursday night’s first round of the 2021 NFL draft commences at 8 p.m. The second and third rounds will be held Friday beginning at 7 p.m., while Rounds 4-7 begin Saturday at noon. All seven rounds of the draft will be televised on ABC, ESPN, NFL Network and ESPN Deportes and broadcast on Westwood One Radio, SiriusXM NFL Radio and ESPN Radio. Eleven Warriors will have coverage of all of Ohio State’s draft selections as they happen.
