After a few weeks of the college football season, it's time to reset my rankings of the quarterbacks for the 2021 NFL draft. The names at the top of the class are familiar if you read my preseason Big Board, but there are a couple of surprises who round out the new top five.
Along with my updated rankings, I have a few notes on North Dakota State signal-caller Trey Lance, who just played his one and only game of the season. I also picked some early-season superlatives, including the QB who has risen most, the most intriguing QB prospect and a Day 3 wild card to keep an eye on. Let's get into it:
Kiper's top five quarterbacks for the 2021 NFL draft
1. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
2. Justin Fields, Ohio State
3. Trey Lance, North Dakota State
4. Kyle Trask, Florida
5. Zach Wilson, BYU
I don't see the top three changing any time soon.
Lawrence is the clear top quarterback in this class, a can't-miss prospect with elite upside. I'm really excited to see Fields in Year 2 as the Buckeyes' starter, and I want to see him take a step forward in his decision-making and decisiveness. Ohio State opens the season Oct. 24 against Nebraska.
As for Lance, who on Saturday played his only game of the season, not much has changed. He is still a great prospect and a potential top-10 pick, as I wrote last week. It was clear that he was rusty in the come-from-behind win over Central Arkansas, and he never quite locked in as a passer. He finished 15-of-30 passing for 149 yards with two touchdowns and his first career interception, and he added 143 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 15 carries. Lance was much more impressive as a runner, but we already knew he was stellar there, as he ran for 1,100 yards in 2019. Considering the circumstances of this season, I don't think NFL scouts are going to be worried about Lance's just-OK day. Overall, this is still a 6-foot-4 quarterback prospect who has thrown 30 career touchdown passes with just one interception. Lance, by the way, officially declared for the draft on Tuesday afternoon.
Let's get into the Nos. 4 and 5 quarterbacks on my list, plus a few other thoughts on the QBs in the 2021 class:
Biggest riser: Kyle Trask, Florida. I wrote about Trask after his season debut last week, and he was stellar against Ole Miss on Saturday, throwing for 416 yards with six touchdown passes. He's the total package. He has a big, 6-5 frame. He can make every throw, from showing touch on short routes to showing strength on go routes. Check out this back-shoulder throw in which Trask puts the ball where only his receiver can get it. Now, Trask is going to need to keep playing at this high level. Can he limit mistakes at Texas A&M and against LSU, Missouri and Georgia over the next month? Before the season, I thought he was a Day 3 prospect to keep an eye on. Now Trask looks like a top-40 pick. Still a long time to go, of course, but I like what I see so far.
Guy you better get to know now: Zach Wilson, BYU. It's early, and he is only a true junior, but Wilson has really impressed me so far. He looks completely healthy following the shoulder surgery he had in early 2019. That setback led to a bumpy season a year ago, as he was reckless at times and held the ball too long, resulting in mistakes (nine interceptions and too many off-target throws). Through three BYU wins this season, Wilson has completed an astounding 85% of his passes while throwing for 949 yards with six touchdowns and a pick. He's on fire. Wilson has added weight and strength to his 6-3 frame, and he is sensing pressure well, manipulating the pocket and showing off his arm. He throws a great ball. Again, Wilson could stay in school and enter the 2022 draft, but he is a legit prospect.
Most intriguing: D'Eriq King, Miami. I don't quite know what to make of King's NFL prospects yet, but it's hard not to be impressed by his production. The Houston transfer doesn't throw interceptions (zero picks to six TD passes so far), and he has put Miami on the national stage this weekend in its top-10 matchup against Clemson (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC). The biggest knock on King is his height -- 5-10 -- but the NFL is changing, and we've seen shorter quarterbacks such as Russell Wilson, Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray have success. King isn't on that level talent-wise, but he is going to get drafted.
Day 3 wild card to watch: Shane Buechele, SMU. I just like watching him sling it. He throws from different arm angles, and he can throw well while he scrambles. He has 44 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions since taking over as the Mustangs' starter in 2019 after transferring from Texas. He has a fourth-round grade from me.
Most inconsistent: K.J. Costello, Mississippi State. I don't know what to think here. Costello threw for 623 yards in the Bulldogs' upset win over LSU, then threw three interceptions on Saturday in the loss to Arkansas. The Stanford transfer took a major step back, and he has already thrown five picks this season. He made some really poor decisions. Costello has NFL potential, but he will likely be a late-round pick.
Two more notes from this weekend ...
Prospect on the rise
Chazz Surratt, LB, North Carolina
Surratt was everywhere in UNC's win over Boston College, racking up eight tackles, a sack and a pass breakup. He is a very good cover linebacker who should be a three-down player at the next level. That makes him extremely valuable to defensive coordinators. The former Tar Heels quarterback has really only played a handful of games at linebacker, so his best football is ahead of him. Could Surratt be in the first-round discussion in April? It's possible, particularly because he fits today's NFL. He is just outside my Big Board right now.
Under-the-radar prospect you should know
Ben Cleveland, G, Georgia
The Bulldogs dominated Auburn from the start on Saturday, and Cleveland overwhelmed defenders at the point of attack in the run game. The 6-6, 335-pounder has powerful hands and solid feet, and he has played in 38 games at right guard for Georgia. He could be a midround steal in the NFL.