The 2021 Quarterback class was one of the most hyped up Quarterback draft classes in recent memory. The buzz leading up to draft night last year was incredible as there were discussions on TV shows and podcasts every day analyzing these quarterbacks and projecting the impact they would have on teams if they were selected by them. There were mock drafts that had four straight quarterbacks going off the board and teams trading up for them.

Shohei Ohtani became the “Face of Baseball” in his 2021 MVP season, where he posted elite numbers on the mound and at the plate. However, Ohtani’s success drew attention to his former league, Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB, 日本野球機構), or Japan’s highest level of professional baseball, which emphasized baseball’s status as an international sport.