Carolina Panthers draft: 5 Big Ten players on the radar in 2021
By Dean Jones
QB. OHIO STATE. player. 812. Scouting Report. JUSTINFIELDS. 1. Pick Analysis
Carolina Panthers Prospect No. 1: Justin Fields (QB) – Ohio State
One player that is going to be a hot commodity next soring despite no Big Ten football this fall is Justin Fields. The Ohio State quarterback is a candidate to go No. 1 overall thanks to a standout 2019 campaign. But whether a canceled season hurts his chances of being the first pick will be entirely dependent on what comes next for the player during the evaluation process.
Fields made the decision to transfer from Georgia after playing second fiddle to Jake Fromm. This resulted in his draft stock skyrocketing after a season that was littered with memorable highlights.
More from Cat Crave
- Ranking the top-five QB prospects the Panthers could draft in 2023
- 4 remaining Carolina Panthers cap crunches after Damien Wilson release
- Could Duce Staley help Carolina Panthers land Jamaal Williams in 2023?
- How much could the Carolina Panthers afford to offer Lamar Jackson?
- 4 Panthers rumors to emerge from 2023 NFL Scouting Combine
The signal-caller completed 67.2 percent of his passes on his way to lofty numbers of 3,273 yards, 41 touchdowns, and three interceptions. Fields’ passing efficiency rating of 181.4 was another eye-catching statistic which will stand him in good stead when the Carolina Panthers and others evaluate him in the coming months.
His ability to make plays on the run is another standout feature of his game. Fields accumulated 137 carries for the Buckeyes in 2019 for 484 rushing yards, ten touchdowns, and a yards-per-carry average of 3.5.
Whether the Panthers are in a position to take someone with franchise-changing potential such as Fields is another matter. Teddy Bridgewater’s performance under center will dictate this. And if the quarterback fails to make the most out of this opportunity. It will not take long for Carolina to look for possible long-term alternatives.