Trevor Lawrence stands alone at the top of the 2021 QB draft class

You can put an end to the debate already. Three years after the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Trevor Lawrence, he stands alone as the best quarterback to come out of the 2021 class. With Zach Wilson, Mac Jones and maybe Justin Fields expected to change teams this offseason, he could be the only first-round passer in 2024 who remains with the team that drafted him.

Jets general manager Joe Douglas said at the NFL Scouting Combine that Wilson has permission to seek a trade, putting an end to three underwhelming seasons in New York. But this isn't the way it was supposed to be.

Trevor Lawrence got the generational talent label and was the consensus top pick in 2021. However, Wilson got positive reviews ahead of the draft, and some analysts believed he could be a franchise quarterback based on his work at BYU. Heck, Wilson showed promise to start his NFL career while Lawrence struggled under Urban Meyer. But at one point in 2022, their careers diverted.

Lawrence began playing like a top-10 quarterback while Wilson regressed and was benched in favor of Mike White and later Chris Streveler. Then, New York traded for Aaron Rodgers, and Wilson was supposed to watch and learn behind the four-time league MVP. However, a season-ending injury to Rodgers threw a wrench at the Jets' plan and Wilson was thrust into action again. Ultimately, Wilson was overwhelmed, showing he hadn't progressed much since 2022.

The Jaguars hit it out of the ball park when they drafted Trevor Lawrence

With Wilson tentatively trading teams, Lawrence could be the only first-round quarterback from the 2021 class who remains with the team that drafted him. Already, the San Francisco 49ers traded Trey Lance, the third overall pick, to the Dallas Cowboys to make room for Brock Purdy. Rather than keep pouring resources into Lance, the 49ers cut their losses. The Jets and maybe New England will do something similar with Wilson and Jones, respectively.

The only other quarterback who may stay with the team that drafted him is Justin Fields, and even he's been the subject of trade talks. Fields has flashed the past three years but he's not met expectations. With the Chicago Bears slated to pick at the top of this year's draft, there's a chance they'll go with Caleb Williams. If that's the route they take, they could then move on from Fields.

The truth is that Fields could benefit from a change of scenario. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Atlanta Falcons have been brought up as potential fits. On the other hand, Zach Wilson and Mac Jones will probably be seen as reclamation projects, which is what Trey Lance was when he joined the Cowboys.

Could any of these cornerbacks put it all together? Don't rule it out, but there's an equal chance they'll flop on their next stop. Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Jaguars should be pleased they were in a position to draft Trevor Lawrence. If only they fixed the offensive line and made sure he has good protection...

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