One of the many great things about NFL draft day is that we can talk, compare, and predict until our hearts are content and not be wrong.
We’ve heard so much about the 2021 NFL Draft’s fab five quarterbacks.
They are:
- Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
- Justin Fields, Ohio State
- Zach Wilson, BYU
- Mac Jones, Alabama
- Trey Lance, North Dakota State
We always seek comparisons to current or legendary NFL quarterbacks when we evaluate these young quarterbacks.
Trevor Lawrence = "Generational"
Zach Wilson is "like Rodgers/Mahomes"
Mac Jones = "More athletic Tom Brady"
Trey Lance = "Next Josh Allen"
Justin Fields = "Faster Dak Prescott"
This is CLEARLY the greatest QB draft in the history of the NFL. 😜 https://t.co/zCWhygnNmA
— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) April 28, 2021
Trey Lance has drawn comparisons with Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
Can Trey Lance be as good as Josh Allen?
Josh Allen is ready for Trey Lance to show out 👀
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/GjJFJylRbc
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) April 25, 2021
He could be, but it is difficult to make that assertion with certainty.
Here’s why.
1. Josh Allen Is Improving
Allen enters his fourth NFL season with the Buffalo Bills.
His career best season was in 2020 when he led his team to the playoffs, throwing 37 touchdown passes and only 10 interceptions.
Allen was named a second-team All Pro and made the 2020 Pro Bowl.
Josh Allen suffered from typical rookie struggles in 2018; he threw more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (10).
In his second season, his maturity began to show, and he threw 20 touchdowns to only 9 interceptions.
Josh Allen is only 24 years old so we know that as the Bills continue to give him more tools and build the team around him, he is only going to get better.
2. Josh Allen Played More Games In College
This is where the assessment of Trey Lance gets tricky.
Lance played 19 career college games, and one of those was an exhibition game in 2020 before COVID-19 shut down the season.
Trey Lance is 20 years old, turning 21 on May 9.
Lance did not throw an interception in 2018 and 2019 so he threw accurate passes and played well.
We don’t really know how much Lance has evolved since then, or how he will handle harder competition and adversity.
Trey Lance is a natural leader with a rocket arm, rare athleticism and a perfect record in college… and he has NFL evaluators scratching their heads: https://t.co/136rhrgdMD pic.twitter.com/KnljzWoYC4
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) April 27, 2021
Josh Allen, on the other hand, played 27 college games; he threw 44 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in his career.
15 of those interceptions were thrown in 2016.
He rebounded well and only threw 6 in 2017.
We saw the growth and change of Allen at Wyoming so there was a better expectation of what he could deliver in the NFL.
3. Josh Allen Is On A Good Team
This is true for any of the fab five quarterbacks.
No matter how talented they are, if they land on a bad team, their jobs become a lot harder.
Look no further than 2020’s first overall pick Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow for an example.
Burrow is a great player, but the lack of protection ultimately got him injured.
Trey Lance needs to land on a team that is willing to invest in talented players around him, most notably an offensive line that can protect him.
The Jets did not do that for Sam Darnold, but the Bills are giving Allen weapons.
On a bad team, any good quarterback struggles.
NEXT: Could The Miami Dolphins Draft A QB At No. 6?