Week 3 of the 2021 NFL season is officially in the books, and all 5 of this yr’s first-round quarterbacks private viewed the self-discipline early this yr, albeit in numerous capacities. This potential that or no longer it is time to grab stock of the tip rookie signal-callers. Who improved their worth after the third week of video games? Who looks comparatively of shakier, with 14 extra to recede?
We’re relaxed you requested. Here is how we would grade every of this yr’s top first-yr QBs in step with their Week 3 performance:
Trevor Lawrence: D+
Stats: 22 of 34 (64.7%), 219 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, 68.1 ranking
Those numbers — noxious on their very private — build no longer embody two lost fumbles, which gave Lawrence four turnovers in what began as a winnable sport against Arizona. It feels fancy every dialog relating to the No. 1 grab wishes to be prefaced with a reminder that Jacksonville is rebuilding, and Lawrence did disguise some real NFL touch on his lone touchdown pass to Marvin Jones. But this Week 3 day time out by itself was extra pertaining to than promising. The Clemson product unruffled looks moderately frantic, which is understandable nonetheless no longer a modern winning formula.
Zach Wilson: D
Stats: 19 of 35 (54.3%), 160 yards, 0 TD, 2 INTs, 42.6 ranking
Let’s originate with this: The Jets are doing him absolutely zero favors. While Sam Darnold is cruising post-Novel York, Gang Green is busy undermining another younger QB with shoddy safety and sport-planning. And yet Wilson is no longer serving to issues. His natural athleticism is unruffled apparent, nonetheless he’s retaining the ball scheme too lengthy and subsequently walking appropriate into broad performs for the opponent. Recklessness can work if the rest of the offense is clicking, nonetheless that’s no longer the case right here, leaving him as a turnover ready to happen.
Trey Lance: A
Stats: 1 shuffle, 1 yard, 1 TD
Here is assemble of an economical “A” brooding about Lance saw all of three snaps in the 49ers‘ stop loss to the Packers. But right here is his role with San Francisco appropriate now: Red-zone runner. There’s absolutely an argument to be made that his athleticism would create greater the 49ers’ offense under center, where some followers are desirous to drag his upside over the protected, if unspectacular, resume of Jimmy Garoppolo. As purely a situational player, then yet again, he’s doing his job on key downs.
Mac Jones: D+
Stats: 30 of 51 (58.8%), 270 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs, 55.2 ranking
Jones has easily been the most spectacular of the tip QB picks this yr, nonetheless Week 3 was a broad actuality verify. Down early against the Saints, the Patriots decided to dial up all forms of deep shots for a guy who’s thrived extra as a transient-put decision-maker, and the outcomes weren’t moderately. The blame perchance lies extra with Novel England than Jones, who unruffled had some appealing darts, nonetheless if we’re gonna dock Lawrence and Wilson for their noxious eventualities, we now private to raise out the identical right here. No longer a grand week for the freshmen.
Justin Fields: D
Stats: 6 of 20 (30%), 68 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 41.2 ranking
The entirely reason this is no longer worse is since the Bears clearly did now not relieve the rookie up entrance, out broad or from the sidelines in what was already an advanced matchup with the Browns protection. But let’s no longer sugarcoat issues, both: Fields was dazed and at a loss for words from the soar, and right here is the identical dysfunctional offense in which Andy Dalton mustered as a minimum just a few points against the Rams and Bengals. His legs, typically touted as a broad reason to pivot from Dalton, had been no component. Does he deserve greater? Yes. Became once he factual? No.
