Texans’ C.J. Stroud Leaves Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence off Top-5 QB List in Favor of Justin Fields
Everyone sees the NFL's top quarterbacks in a different light -- including the quarterbacks themselves.
Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud -- the No. 2 overall pick in April's draft -- is no different. And in Stroud's view, quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson and Jacksonville Jaguars franchise passer Trevor Lawrence are just outside the top-5.
In his own ranking of the league's best quarterbacks, Stroud included Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen ... and former fellow Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields.
As a result, Lawrence was left off the list, instead falling behind a fellow 2021 draftee in Fields.
The fact that Stroud and Fields attended the same school likely plays a major factor in his controversial ranking. And in a league where young quarterbacks are developing into top-tier signal-callers each year, it is tough to make any top-5 list that doesn't exclude a big name.
But still, Lawrence or Jackson not making Stroud's ranking is odd considering what each has done in the NFL as opposed to Fields. Fields is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in recent memory, but his passing metrics fall far behind those of Lawrence, while Jackson himself is a former MVP.
But until Lawrence does enough to make it clear to the consensus public that he belongs in the elite tier of passers, he is likely to find odd rankings just like Stroud's.
In 17 starts in 2022, Lawrence completed 387 of 584 passes for 4,113 yards and 25 TDs. His 387 completions were the most in a single season in franchise history and his five rushing TDs were tied with Garrard for the most in single-season franchise history.
Lawrence joined Bengals QB Joe Burrow and Bills QB Josh Allen as the only players in the NFL with 25-plus passing TDs and at least five rushing TDs. Against the Titans in Week 14, Lawrence set a career-high with 368 yards passing and was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance.
The second-year quarterback totaled four 300-yard passing games and orchestrated three comebacks of 17-plus points, including a comeback from behind 27-0 in the postseason against the Chargers.
