Ohio State's Ryan Day: Justin Fields 'checks all the boxes' as an NFL QB

The Jacksonville Jaguars are almost certainly selecting Clemson Tigers star quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the first pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. Of the three quarterbacks who will likely follow as fellow first-round picks, Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day knows who he'd take after Lawrence is off the board. 

Per Adam Rittenberg of ESPN, Day said on Monday he believes Ohio State signal-caller Justin Fields "checks all the boxes" as a to-be NFL starter. Fields will complete his pro day workout Tuesday in Columbus. 

"Whatever they teach in terms of a scheme, he's going to pick that up very, very quickly," Day said of the quarterback who passed for 5,373 yards with 63 touchdowns and only nine interceptions across two seasons at Ohio State. "And he's very, very competitive. So when you combine the talent, the size, the arm strength, his competitiveness, his toughness, his intelligence, it kind of checks all the boxes. If you were trying to design a quarterback, to me, Justin fits that prototype." 

Fields saw limited action with the Georgia Bulldogs in 2018 before making the move to Ohio State. 

"Whether he's ready-made to be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, that's up to them, every team has to make their own decision," Day added. "But I know this: Everything you invest in that kid, you're going to get back. It's just a matter of the fit.

"Someone's going to take a shot at him here early in the draft and they're going to have a franchise quarterback for a long time." 

In a recently updated mock draft, CBS Sports' Josh Edwards predicted the San Francisco 49ers will take Fields with pick No. 3. Over the weekend, Walter Football had the Atlanta Falcons using the fourth overall draft pick to acquire Fields. "Drawing comparisons to Deshaun Watson, Fields should be the second- or fourth-overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft," draft guru Walter Cherepinsky explained.