Could Jacksonville Jaguars draft Justin Fields instead of Trevor Lawrence?

Why would the Jacksonville Jaguars draft Justin Fields?

Now that the 2020 season is over for the Jacksonville Jaguars, it’s time for the organization to start planning for the offseason. Among the decisions the team has to make is who will they select with the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. While Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence will be the top prospect available, their next head coach could lean toward picking Ohio State’s Justin Fields.

Urban Meyer’s name has been linked to the Jaguars’ potential head coaching vacancy, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, but if the team can’t land him, they could then target Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, who coached Fields and beat Clemson in the Sugar Bowl. Together, they earned a 20-1 record and played in two consecutive Big Ten Football Championship Games.

Day isn’t accepting interviews for any NFL opening, per Adam Schefter of ESPN, but the right contract could lure him to Jacksonville or any other organization that is interested in his services.

There are different paths the Jacksonville Jaguars could take.

Fields outplayed Lawrence in the Sugar Bowl, but that doesn’t mean he is the better player. Lawrence has been better in his college career and when scouting any prospect, evaluators take his whole body of work into consideration and not just their best performances. One game didn’t likely move the needle for those that have been keeping track of both quarterback prospects.

Fields’ and Lawrence’s performance in the Sugar Bowl will be part of the evaluation process but no the only factor. However, if Ryan Day gets the Jaguars’ head coaching job, he could make the case for drafting Fields. While this scenario is unlikely, there are different routes the Jaguars’ can take with the first overall pick, and this could be one of them.

If this Jacksonville team ends up interviewing Day, they will surely ask him what his vision is and what player he would like the organization to take with the first overall pick. He could then vouch for Fields and talk about the success they have had together.

On the other hand, just because Day coached Fields at Ohio State doesn’t mean he would want to have him in the NFL. They surely have a nice rapport, but the prospect of working with Lawrence could be too good to pass up.

Keep in mind this scenario would probably only arose if the Jaguars hired Day as their head coach. Nevertheless, it’s uncertain what Jacksonville plans to do in the offseason and nothing is set in stone.