Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been the projected first-overall pick for well over a year, and that’s unlikely to change before draft day. Outside of Lawrence, the rest of the top 10 is somewhat of a mystery.

The Atlanta Falcons hold the No. 4 overall pick and mock drafts continue to predict the team will use that pick on a quarterback, despite former MVP Matt Ryan having three years remaining on his contract. However, this isn’t an indictment against Ryan, but merely the result of a 2021 draft class that’s extremely talented and deep at the quarterback position.

In Touchdown Wire’s mock draft 2.0, Mark Schofield has the team drafting Ohio State QB Justin Fields but doesn’t think Ryan is done by any means. In fact, he predicts Ryan will be a great fit in Arthur Smith’s offense. But due to the team having a top-five pick, Schofield believes it’s time for Atlanta to draft its quarterback of the future:

“The hiring of Arthur Smith bodes well, at least in my mind, for the tail end of Matt Ryan’s career. I would expect to see a lot of the schematic elements that have put Ryan Tannehill in a position to succeed being used with Ryan, Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and the rest of the Atlanta Falcons’ roster.

But when you have a chance to draft a quarterback early in the first round, you should take advantage of that opportunity. Justin Fields faces some questions, as some view him as a first-read QB only, but from where I sit Fields an make all the throws, can make all the reads, and has the athleticism that is non-negotiable to succeed in the NFL today.”

Fields is the third QB taken in TD Wire’s mock draft after Lawrence (1st) and Zach Wilson (2nd). Other recent mocks, including ESPN’s latest, have the Falcons drafting Wilson with the fourth-overall pick. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah went a different route in his recent mock, giving Atlanta North Dakota State QB Trey Lance.

Will Falcons head coach Arthur Smith and GM Terry Fontenot gamble on a new franchise quarterback? Or as I suggested earlier this week, will Atlanta instead trade down and collect multiple picks that could potentially help the team right away?