Fields vision

If the Jets end up with the NFL’s worst record and land the first pick in the 2021 draft, there is a good chance they will select a quarterback.

The two names that come up most in the conversation are Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields.

So how does a team decide between these two gifted prospects? Obviously, there is a lot of time to evaluate the two between now and the draft. However, something former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah said about Fields should be a cause of concern for the Jets, and perhaps make them go with Lawrence.

Let’s just say, the issue Jeremiah has with Fields is similar to an issue with Sam Darnold, that has hurt his development: a fixation with his first read, and seldom going through progressions properly.

The following comment from Jeremiah was after Ohio State’s narrow win over Indiana, a game in which Fields was very inconsistent and threw three interceptions.

“Just some of those issues (Fields) has when he gets stuck on one, if one’s not there, (he) holds the ball; then you saw him kind of force things (against Indiana),” Jeremiah said on NFL Network. “It all comes back to the same thing — my only concern is kind of vision, just his overall vision.”

Jeremiah, who is close friends with Jets GM Joe Douglas from their time together as Baltimore scouts, said Fields is really good when “everything lines up clean.” In other words, when his first read is open.

“He’s big, strong and accurate when everything lines up clean,” Jeremiah said. “He can extend plays. He’s phenomenal at being able to escape and make things happen.”

Sounds like Darnold. He’s very good when the first read is open, and terrific at extending plays with his legs.

So while Fields is a solid prospect, perhaps it’s best for the Jets to go with Lawrence, who sees the field better.