Which QB Has Best Chance to Become the Baker Mayfield of the ‘21 NFL Draft Class? | Rich Eisen Show 

Baker Mayfield never should have been dropped from the Browns in the first place. He was the first QB to actually turn the franchise around, get them to a winning season, and win a playoff game. As soon as the Browns got rid of Mayfield in favor of Watson, their franchise went back to the trash they were before. Point is, Mayfield actually had success with his team, had the stats (he turned in the best rookie season at the time before Justin Herbert broke his and others' records), and overall proved his worth in the NFL but was dropped. None of these other quarterbacks have had nearly the same success or numbers to be considered a parallel for Mayfield. They are just bad quarterbacks. Maybe one of them can turn it around, but that would be a completely different story than Mayfield who simply returned to form once he waa given a real chance.

Justin is sitting behind Wilson. Mac is sitting behind Trevor. Trey is 3rd string now, Zach is 3rd string now. It's kind of sad. 😢

TJ, that was the best nonchalant zinger ever! "Are you guys still thinking back to that one throw he made at his pro day?"

Currently it’d be Justin fields.

Has anyone considered the possibility that the Jets aren't trading Zach Wilson because no one wants him? Most of his tape makes you wonder why he's on an NFL roster in the first place. If Justin Fields is worth a 6th, Zach Wilson's trade value is nonexistent.

Steve Young was in the same situtation till he ended up with Walsh in San Francisco!

What are you talking about? Teams have been churning Quarterbacks for years! The Browns drafted quarterback after quarterback, the Raiders, the Jets...pretty much every team that's gone on long periods of sucking has done exactly that. They wind up ruining a lot of quarterbacks that way, because they draft a quarterback into a bad situation, they develop poor NFL habits, and then never really get a fair shake of it. But teams have definitely consistently churned quarterbacks before. I actually think they're getting a little better about giving second chances to guys by putting them in better situations.

Zach Wilson 🙌🏽

browns really fumbled with baker, his shoulder was injured in his last season they drop him and give an unplayable deshaun watson a yatch

Not Zach Wilson

The answer is pretty obvious. Jefferson Addison Hockenson Aaron jones OConnel Defense will be better. How is It not Minnesota with Sam darnold?

as a jets fan i can say we 100% failed zach wilson as a young qb and ruined his confidence and i totally think he has the talent to at least get some reps and a chance somewhere else

100% Justin Fields and it could be this season if Russ is bad or gets injured. I feel for Zach because the Jets are a tough environment for QBs. I was in the stands when the Jets played the Chiefs and he had the whole stadium cheering him on. Maybe with the better Offensive Line this year the Jets can finally break the playoff drought.

Zach for sure

None of them are as good as Baker.

Justin Fields has already shown that improvement in the second half of last season. Plus the bald guy is talking as if he didn't actually watch any of Justin's games last season with the RG3 comparison. He has already adjusted his game to sliding and running out of bounds to avoid big hits.

Makes me think of Trey Lance, what if there's just an unbelievable QB 3 just sitting in Dallas right now?

Baseball, hockey draft picks usually are developed in the minors. Football it's straight into the fire especially for the QBs.

It's early offseason, no telling what will happen after the draft. A bad situation is a hard thing for any player to overcome. QBs are in the spotlight. I think Sam Howell is in a good situation for him and it will probably happen for some of these other guys.

Uh ... didn't the Pats use to pickup a later round QB every 2 years or so when TB12 active?

Playing QB at that level is a lot harder. Finding a good one is harder than finding a good RB. I'm not talking CMC or Henry, just the good ones. No one will move on from a great QB after a few seasons just to avoid paying, but the other guys? Baker is a different story. Cleveland moved on too fast. He didn't look bad like the 2021 QBs

As both a Trey Lance & Z Wilson dynasty manager please let it be one of em.

Stop paying them all! Treat them how you do running backs.

It’s not Zach Wilson lol

Fields and Wilson

is that a Positive or negative?

Justin is way bigger than RG 3 as far as getting hurt.

I want to point out something. Mitchell Trubisky was Chicago's QB until they drafted Fields. Trubisky lasted four seasons in Chicago, they didn't pick up his 5th year option and he walked to be a backup in Buffalo. Three seasons after drafting Fields, they ship him to Pittsburgh for a 6th possible 4th round pick in 2025. I crunched their numbers to compare Trubisky's first three seasons to Fields'. These numbers are overall, both rushing and passing yard and touchdowns to go with overall turnovers. Fumbles lost and interceptions. Plus sacks taken. Trubkisy: 9,416 yards, 55 TDs to 31 turnovers and took 93 sacks. Trubisky threw over 3000 yards twice and his passing yards is 310 less than Fields total yards. Fields: 8.864 yards, 54 TDs to 32 turnovers, and took 115 sacks. How is Trubisky a bum but Fields is not when Trubisky played better while the starter for the Bears than Fields did? Fields best season his total yards(3,384) is slightly better than Trubisky's best passing yard(3,223) season. Which both were their second season as a starter.

Brockman chiming in with the “but thats his 4th team” killed me

I was also weirdly thinking Wilson just before you both said him!

I think the Steelers did that with Kenny Pickett though he wasn’t a top ten first round draft pick.

I have a horrible forboding feeling that whomever takes Zack off us, it will come back to haunt us. Part of our fanbase has not been kind to him at all. He was never going to be Joe Namath out of the blocks, but in another life, he could have been. Good luck to him.

None of these guys have it. I completely forgot about Trey Lance.

What if Jerry's plan is to just see what happens this year, and then if it doesn't end well yet again, blow everything up, and rebuild around Trey Lance (hence why Mike McCarthy might be more likely to still be there in 2025 than Dak Prescott)?

Surely Miami is the place to do this next year. Tua will deserve a massive bag, so ditching him will financially save a fortune. And the fanbase like him, but dont love him as the saviour of the franchise (which is my herbert/burrow would have been hard to do that with). 5 decent years, and start again.

This is such a misnomer to begin with. Baker wasn't a bust. Baker got did dirty by a crap organization. I think if Mac Jones got into an offense where he could just distribute the ball to play makers he could do well. We'll never know if Trey Lance can be good if no team is willing to sit through his growing pains. Justin Fields is never gong to be a winning QB. Zach Wilson still hasn't grown up.

Let's be honest, Mayfield is REALLY on his 2nd team.

I think my problem with assuming any of these QB's can do what Baker did is Baker actually performed and had a good season in Cleveland. His health and the wandering eyes of his GM changed that situation and when he played well with a decent team in Tampa it wasn't surprising because of the talent he had shown before. The only player of these 3 shown to even have that chance is Fields and even then I don't really think we've ever seen him put a full season of work together. And I think that's a very fair comparison when you put together the coaching changes Baker went through while going to a team picking at the top.

I agree with it being Zach Wilson. Jets had a terrible o-line, a terrible offensive coordinator who never set up the offense to fit Zach. Look at Zach's last game. He threw over 300 yards and a couple TD's. Plus don't forget he got pulled out of the lineup like every other game. Hard to get a rhythm with wide receivers in that situation.

In order for their career to enjoy a Mayfield-like recovery, guys need to have opportunities to shine. Wilson stays mired in the same hole, Jones and Lance will certainly not unseat their starter. Only Fields has a shot, as Russ is on a cheap 1y contract. But Justin will have to show he has Mayfield's QB savvy, which he precisely what he failed to do in Chicago - and I'm a JF fan.

It’s very hard to just draft a new QB because being an elite QB is so much more than athletic and physical ability. Some of the greatest QBs to ever play have never been the greatest physical athletes, they can read a defense and make all the right throws that’s what matters. Whereas a RB or a CB or any other role, usually the physical athletes are the best and have physical measurables that you can assess them on. An elite QB only comes from experience and seeing them play, no other real way to assess a QB

Fields

Zach and Justin were basically in the same situation. Both had bad o lines. Justin showed more promise. Zach been the same since his rookie year and showed no improvement. Stop with the excuses about him need to be in a certain system.

Unwilling? Bro was sliding and getting hit late every week.

I'm going to post something that I posted on Gang Green Nation about Zach Wilson; "The vitriol from me is, I knew Zach was never gonna be an NFL quality QB. Not even if he had Bill Walsh as his head coach, Don Coryell as his OC, Kyle Shanahan as his QB coach, and the 90's Dallas Cowboys Offensive line in front of him. The kid never played anyone that was gonna play on Sunday in his college career. I said this the whole time the Jets were looking at him, fell in love with him, then drafted him second overall. Wholly wasted draft pick, Batman! Am I a genius, maybe, maybe not. But I sure as heck no what a good pro QB looks like coming out of college, and Zach did quack like that duck." So, I'm afraid Rich and Chris are betting a loser if they think Zach "I still get carded in my own hometown" Wilson is going to ever make it as a starter in the NFL on any team. I'm just saying.

Jake Browning Cincinnati

Justin right now, but Zach if he gets to the right team. Reasons: Mac Jones was digressing, Zach and Justin aren't. Trey Lance has like 500 total snaps in his NFL and college career combined so he is a total unknown. Justin imo shows the leadership and grit to get things done and his legs can buy him time to figure out the rest if he stays healthy. Zach just needs snaps and time away from the New York fanbase.

Rich Eisen seems like a really nice guy

Mac Jones.

I like Zach Wilson. He gave the Chiefs a run for their money, HE made the plays that game - and if he can play like that all the time, he'll have a winning record with most teams. For the record, I said this before I heard their takes. Lol

Ravens fan hunch: Zach Wilson to Seahawks and watch him thrive

I think Justin Fields should be very motivated, Russell Wilson will add to that motivation

Fields.

Mac has HC that was a lifetime backup QB and won a superbowl with a backup so maybe he is the best spot? 🤔

None of them

Would you rather learn from a legendary QB or the coach who taught the legendary QB? My pick is Trey Lance w/ the Cowboys.

I think you guys are right about Zach but the other three are sleepers too!! 🏈 🏆

I don't see Zach coming back. The lack of trade value is a big red flag. Other teams are seeing problems they don't want to try to fix. That's not a "Jets can't develop QBs" issue. Mac and Fields are back up to QBs with some ?. I don't think that's an accident. I do think Justin Fields has the best shot at playing, but Trevor had 4 injuries last year.

Davis Mills

Fields. If someone is capable of starting in the NFL, they usually show you something by now - a flash, some great games. Wilson’s “great” games weren’t really that great.

Really want to see Lance get some chance to play

I still say it’s the system now. You used to draft a QB and sit him for the first year to learn how to be an NFL QB. Now they just throw them in there

I think Zach Wilson is going to the Broncos or Raiders. Whichever one doesn't get the QB they wanted to draft.

Justin Fields

The only team that has developed QBs are the Green Bay Packers, three years to prepare before playing, it depends on the team that they land

With the whole quarterback conversation. Is that not What Washington did when they drafted Kirk cousins and rg3? Is that not what the Packers have done for years?

All I know is that Zach Wilson will definitely not become the Mayfield in 2024. He is fortunate that he still has a job in the NFL.

well since there wont be another '21 NFL Draft, I dont understand who you're choosing from that isnt the Draft itself.

Sam Darnold could make waves with Jefferson in an inconsistent division.

I’d put money on Zach making major leaps if he’s put in an actual good situation

Wilson bc he has that "it" factor.

There’s a big difference between Baker and these guys: Baker led his first team to a playoff win, none of these cats have sniffed the post season

Mac

Clearly, most of those quarterbacks from the 2021 class were not first-round pick material. This is another case of desperate teams over-drafting and reaching for a quarterback because they need one. Trey Lance went from being the 115th-ranked quarterback in the nation when he was in high school to only playing one full season for a 1-AA school to the 3rd pick in the draft? Lance being a bust is completely predictable.

So what about Jalen hurts - didn’t the Bears just do that?

You cant shake Z... ah... (the New England fan cares about the health of Fields... "care" )

Trey Lance. Dak is the most likely to get hurt in season.

Old NFL coaches destroy QBs.

If they can't trade Wilson and somehow he winds up having start for the Jets again, someone needs to take Saleh's belt and shoelaces away just in case.

Fields has the best shot

Mac Jones, he showed he could be a competent QB his rookie year.

I'd say Fields, but Tomlin has never developed 1 QB.

No never. Teams go 20 years on QB carousel. If you got a decent one you sign him.

It’s obviously Fields

Poor Zach Wilson 😢

Penix will need to sit a while, he's got a dynamic arm, and all the throws, but he needs seasoning (he was exposed a bit as unseasoned in the National Championship game)

Aaron loves Zach he thinks he can be good if he sits for a while

Stop it. Baker Mayfield was good in Cleveland, and they shipped him off because they thought they'd have a top 5 QB in Watson. Darnold and Wilson are trash.

He is going to get the hug he needs, someone to hold his hand during thunderstorms and a gold star for being a good boy! Just glad we got rid of him!

What's the common denominator here, looks to me like perennially crappy teams drafting a QB to be a savior. Other than Lance, all those QB's went to questionable teams. Maybe Mac Jones in his first year had an ok team he played on, which he had a pretty good year. 49ers of course are not bad, but they saw something in Lance, but he never really got a full chance thanks to the out of no where Purdy situation.

Bryce young

Trey lance is gonna get an opportunity when dak eventually cost too much for the cowboys

1 wilson 2 mac 3 field 100th lance lol

I’m going to to say Tray Lance… Only because he is sitting behind Cowboy’s QB1 & and the brilliant mind of HC McCaurthy. Who developed Aaron Rodgers into a legend QB

Someone will pay Sam Darnold next year after he game manages the Vikings to the playoffs

none..cos none will be starters...

None of them. The only one that might be a semi capable back-up is Mac Jones if he grows up and accepts that. Fields should probably be converted to RB or punt returner. Wilson and Lance are basically 3rd stringers. The Wilson take here is dumb. He hasn't got any QB instincts or mental ability to play the position and that isn't changing. Sean Payton isn't fixing that. Fields same thing. Can't process the game and zero pocket presence.Geno, Tyrod and the other back-up/ bridge starter guys at least have some ability to play the position. Can't compare any of these guys to them. The closest career arc to Baker right now is Trevor Lawrence. He needs a big leap this season to avoid the "bust" label that people were so quick to put on Baker.

We are at that time, thats why they want atheletic qbs the only reason you would want that over a smart statue of a man is it doesnt matter if they turn into RG3

The Bears just did that.

Great take on Zach Wilson. He's much more mature than he was a year ago, and when the pressure was off after his return, he balled out. He deserves to be on a QB-friendly team for once in his NFL career, behind an OL that ranks better than bottom 5 in the League.