Category: Trevor Lawrence

Ryan Clark says he’s not sold on Trevor Lawrence’s ability to be a franchise savior

Former NFL safety Ryan Clark questions if Trevor Lawrence is a franchise savior and discussed why Zach Wilson is more intriguing on “Get Up.”

When it comes to the first pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, there haven’t been many contrarians. Almost universally, Jacksonville is expected to take Trevor Lawrence, the former Clemson quarterback who has been dubbed the best prospect at the position since Andrew Luck in 2012.

But as the draft begins to approach, several national analysts aren’t quite sold on Lawrence and his advertised generational talent. On ESPN’s “Get Up,” NFL Draft scout Matt Miller stated that some evaluators around the league are pumping the brakes on Lawrence’s outlook while Ryan Clark echoed those sentiments.

https://youtu.be/qrzeswOsnhw

Miller added that evaluators are comparing Zach Wilson to arguably the league’s best player, Patrick Mahomes, who excels in working off platform and has unreal arm strength, thus explaining why some feel he’s better than Lawrence. He also added that Lawrence’s style of play (tall, strong-armed, drop-back passer) is going out of fashion in the NFL.

Clark agreed, saying that he keeps going back to Lawrence’s performance when facing Joe Burrow in the national championship last season and Justin Fields in the playoff semifinal this season.

With not much drama surrounding the beginning of the draft this season, it isn’t surprising that those who have concerns about Lawrence are vocalizing them. Both analysts seem to prefer Wilson, who ran a West Coast wide zone offense in college that resembles many of the novel offenses in the NFL.

Despite this dissent, it almost certainly won’t affect the decision Jacksonville makes. Lawrence will be coming to Duval.

The only question is, will he be able to prove to doubters like Miller and Clark that he’s the generational talent many believe him to be.

Former NFL coach June Jones has Mac Jones ranked over Trevor Lawrence

June Jones thinks the former Alabama quarterback has more potential than any other passer in the class, including Trevor Lawrence.

When it comes to who will be selected with the first overall pick, there aren’t many seasons that include less speculation than this one. Almost certainly, Jacksonville will take former Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the selection.

Almost exclusively, draft prognosticators have Lawrence as the top passer in this class, usually followed by either Zach Wilson from BYU or Justin Fields from Ohio State.

But June Jones, a former NFL coach for the San Diego Chargers and Atlanta Falcons and college coach for Hawaii and Southern Methodist, has a bit of an… unorthodox take.

His top quarterback isn’t Lawrence. Nor is it Fields. Nor Wilson. It’s not even Trey Lance, the mysterious but intriguing prospect from North Dakota State who only got to play one game this season. According to Jones, the best quarterback in the draft as national championship-winning Alabama quarterback and 2020 Heisman finalist Mac Jones.

“Mac’s deep-ball accuracy is probably the best that I have graded in my years of coaching quarterbacks,” Jones said. “He’s almost at 55 percent at over 20 yards, which is unbelievable.

“(Mac Jones) is a receiver watcher. I could tell watching him on television when they had the right camera angle. And I really think that is huge for him. It’s how he naturally throws the deep ball.”

Jones’ take is interesting, but it certainly runs counter to most draft experts, who have Mac closer to No. 5 or 6 on the quarterback rankings. And though the former coach may think he’s better than Lawrence, the odds that the Jaguars pull the trigger on him are basically negligible.

Most draft analysts see Jones coming off the board as a mid or late first-rounder, so his projections aren’t really close to Lawrence’s right now.

Dabo Swinney: Trevor Lawrence will be an ‘international superstar’

The two-time national champion coach said former Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence will be an international superstar in the next 10 years.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has already put one star quarterback into the NFL in Deshaun Watson, and now he’s about to watch another make that jump in Trevor Lawrence. Expectations are high for Lawrence, who is being dubbed one of the best quarterback prospects ever and the biggest sure-thing since Andrew Luck in 2012. But Swinney expects him to meet — and even exceed — those expectations.

After Lawrence’s pro day on Friday, Swinney told NFL Network’s Jane Slater that he would be an “international superstar” within the next 10 years, according to The Clemson Insider.

“I don’t know how many of those we have had in the NFL. I know we have had a lot of them in basketball and golf and different things,” Swinney said. “But football is a little different. You take the helmet off sometimes and a lot of people don’t really know who you are. But he has a presence with his helmet on or off.

“He is special. I really think he has that in him. He is going to be a great, great player for a long time. He is going to be a great player on the first day wherever he is going. But I do think, he is a guy that has the potential, literally, from a global standpoint to have that type of reach.”

In addition to Lawrence’s accomplishments on the field (which include a national championship win and a second-place Heisman finish), he showed leadership off of it, especially this past offseason. Lawrence participated in the Black Lives Matter movement and was one of the players that spearheaded the #WeWantToPlay movement.

Jaguars fans will hope Swinney was right, and that there will be a Lebron James or Tiger Woods-type player residing in the 904 for the foreseeable future.

Look: Trevor Lawrence provides fans with a post-surgery update

Trevor Lawrence’s labrum surgery went well and he updated the fans via social media to express that he’s excited about his rehab process.

Presumptive first overall pick Trevor Lawrence successfully had surgery on his non-throwing shoulder Tuesday, which means he’s now ready to begin healing up and eventually rehabbing for the NFL. Per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, everything “went great” as the procedure was done by Dr. ElAttrache of Kerlan-Jobe in Los Angeles.

After the process, Lawrence himself took to Instagram to show fans that he’s doing well — and that he’s also keeping his coffee priorities straight.

Lawrence’s surgery comes days after his pro day at Clemson where he put on an impressive display for the Jacksonville Jaguars and NFL in general. He didn’t look the slightest bit bothered by the injury or the fact that Jags coach Urban Meyer was watching closely though, making the workout with Clemson receiver Cornell Powell and others look easy.

A full recovery process for the future No. 1 overall pick is expected to take four to five months, but the expectation is for him to be ready for NFL training camp. He also told the media that he expects to resume throwing in six to eight weeks, which puts him on a timetable of late March to early April.

Despite the minor roadblock, the Jags undoubtedly have their minds made up to take the Clemson star, who most feel is a generational talent. Instead, the fanbase should more so turn their attention to who the team will take with their other 10 picks as there are several needs to address this offseason.

CBS Sports gives Trevor Lawrence lofty comparison

NFL writers Will Brinson and Ryan Wilson compared Lawrence to Peyton Manning, John Elway and Andrew Luck.

The term “generational quarterback” may be a bit overused. It seems every offseason, the best passer available is labeled a can’t-miss prospect, one that doesn’t come around every year.

Rarely is this actually the case.

But with former Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who is expected to be selected by Jacksonville with the first overall pick, it just might hold true.

On the latest episode of the Pick Six Podcast, CBS NFL writers Will Brinson and Ryan Wilson put Lawrence in an elite class of quarterback prospects, drawing comparisons to several of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.

“There have been three, prior to this draft, absolute slam-dunk, can’t-miss … prospects,” Brinson said. “Those are John Elway, Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck. And I think the fourth guy on that list is Trevor Lawrence.”

“None of those guys look like Trevor Lawrence or play like Trevor Lawrence. The hyped Clemson product just doesn’t have many, if any, major flaws as a QB prospect. In a lot of ways, the best comparison for Trevor Lawrence is (2020) Justin Herbert. They’re the same size physically — their measurements, they probably both run the same. (And) if Trevor Lawrence plays anything close to Justin Herbert in 2020, that is an absolute slam-dunk home run.”

“Is he gonna struggle next year? Yeah, probably. But at the end of the day, it’s the pick you have to make.”

Lawrence, who weighed in at 6-foot-5 5/8, 213-pounds at his pro day, has to add 25 pounds to catch Herbert, who is listed at 6-foot-6, 237-pounds. That will come down the road as Lawrence probably hasn’t been able to lift weights as much as he was hoping with his left labrum needing surgery. Otherwise, it’s not hard to see how Brinson came up with the comparison.

Expecting Lawrence to have similar careers to Elway, Manning, or even Luck, who had a tremendous start to his career before choosing to end it in his prime, may be a lot to ask of the young quarterback. But at every step of his career, he’s had to shoulder lofty expectations. And at every step, he’s continued to meet (or exceed) them.

Trevor Lawrence’s shoulder surgery ‘went great,’ remains on track to be ready for training camp

Presumptive first overall pick Trevor Lawrence had successful surgery to his non-throwing shoulder Tuesday and remains on track for NFL camp.

Jacksonville Jaguars fans can now breathe again as presumptive first overall pick Trevor Lawrence successfully had surgery on his non-throwing shoulder Tuesday. After seeing Dr. Neal ElAttrache of Kerlan-Jobe in Los Angeles, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero says the procedure “went great,” so it’s on to the rehab process. 

Lawrence had an early pro day last Friday to allow him to start his rehab process as soon as possible and be ready for NFL training camp. He spoke with Urban Meyer the week prior, and the Jags head coach suggested throwing earlier than he originally planned so the Jags’ assistants could see him in person. 

While there were some minor incompletions, Lawrence didn’t disappoint providing the Jags with several highlight throws with Meyer, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and Jags offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell watching within close range. 

With the surgery complete, Lawrence was given a four to five-month window to fully recover. However, he could be throwing again in six to eight weeks. Regardless, even if his recovery time goes into the season, the Jags are expected to take him with the No. 1 overall pick. 

Trevor Lawrence’s early pro day stemmed from a simple suggestion made by Urban Meyer

The new Jaguars head coach suggested the former Clemson quarterback have his pro day early to speed up his recovery timeline from surgery.

Presumptive first overall pick Trevor Lawrence had the opportunity to show off his arm in front of NFL scouts at his private pro day on Friday. He chose not to participate in Clemson’s March 11 pro day to move up the timetable for surgery on his non-throwing shoulder.

According to NFL.com, the suggestion to hold his own pro day early came from none other than Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer.

“I (told) him there are three choices. No. 1, you can wait until the March 11 pro day, but now your (recovery) is getting near August, because it’s a five to six month injury. The second (choice), you can not throw. He’s probably a good enough player, he could’ve said ‘I’m not doing it,’ him and his agent,” Meyer told NFL Network’s Jane Slater. “Or the third (choice), I said ‘Why don’t you just go grab a ball and throw for a little bit? … And he said ‘Let’s go.’ That was it. Next thing I know, we’re here at a pro day that they put together (quickly). That’s a guy that loves football and is confident in his ability.”

Lawrence is scheduled to undergo surgery on Tuesday, and he’s expected to be fully recovered by the beginning of training camp.

There appears to be a developing relationship between the two, who will likely be united in Jacksonville after the NFL Draft. Meyer, who was previously a college sports analyst for Fox Sports, has analyzed Clemson’s program thoroughly over the years, so he’s well aware of Lawrence.

The Jaguars will hope the coordination of the pro day is the first of many great collaborations between the two. Early indications prove the relationship between Lawrence and Meyer has the potential to work out, but fans will have to wait until the draft and beyond to see it in action in the NFL.

Watch: Every throw from Trevor Lawrence’s pro day at Clemson

Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence threw a wide variety of passes for the NFL in his workout Friday, and as expected, he knocked it out of the park.

The player who is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick, Trevor Lawrence, took the field for his pre-draft workout and did not disappoint. With Urban Meyer watching from five yards away and the rest of the NFL watching, too, Lawrence threw 52 passes and had limited drops or flaws in the process. 

Lawrence started his day with a weigh-in and checked in at 213 pounds. While that may seem concerning, it’s worth noting his left labrum injury has likely prevented him from lifting weights extensively. In terms of his height, he was just short of 6-foot-6 (6-foot-5 5/8), so there were no surprises there.

Lawrence’s pro day took place much earlier than expected due to him needing to repair the aforementioned left labrum issue. While the abrupt discovery only gave him a week to prepare for the workout, it’s now out of the way, and he can begin the medical procedure and rehab process this month.

As the reports from last week stated, Lawrence gave the media a timeline of four to five months for a full recovery, which means he’ll be ready for training camp. He also added that he would need to avoid throwing for six to eight weeks.

Despite his injury, Lawrence made Friday look easy. Here are all throws he made courtesy of NFL Network:

https://youtu.be/t298eGa3o38

Watch: Trevor Lawrence puts on impressive throw day display with Urban Meyer watching closely

The Jacksonville Jaguars will undoubtedly be drafting Trevor Lawrence, yet the team didn’t hesitate to drop in on his pro day.

Friday marked an important day for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Trevor Lawrence as the future No. 1 overall pick held his workout at Clemson’s indoor facility Friday morning. And while the workout was one that didn’t have to be done, Lawrence wanted to respect the NFL’s scouting process and put on a show for those who came.

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With 31 NFL teams attending, none were able to get a better view than the Jaguars as Urban Meyer watched the pro day from a distance of about five yards.

Lawrence said the workout was one that was brought up on short notice, so he had about a week to prepare. That still didn’t stop him from putting on an impressive display, which included a couple rockets down the field.

What a way to end a workout, right?

As previously reported, Lawrence held his throw day early due to discovering a left labrum issue, which will require repairing. After his series of throws on the field Lawrence said he believes the procedure will prevent him from throwing for six to eight weeks (late March to early April). He also added that the full clearance process will take four to five months (June-July), which means he’ll be available for training camp.

Regardless of how Friday went, the Jags already have their minds made up to take Lawrence. Now, it’s just a matter of dealing with the anxiety for fans as April’s draft can’t get here soon enough.

Bevell, Meyer, and Schottenheimer to attend Lawrence’s workout Friday

Trevor Lawrence will throw for the NFL tomorrow, and of course, the Jags will be there.

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence will be taking the field tomorrow morning for a workout in front of the whole NFL, although it’s pretty much a guarantee that he’ll be going first overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars. On Thursday, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell told the media he will be attending with Brian Schottenheimer and Urban Meyer in what will be their last look at Lawrence before he has a left shoulder injury repaired.

In what was his first meeting with the Jacksonville media, Bevell also said he’ll personally be paying attention to Lawrence’s velocity, as it’s something that can be hard to gauge on film.

“I think for me it’s just important, like I said earlier, just to see the ball come out of his hands,” said Bevell. “I think one of the hardest things to do on tape is to be able to tell velocity and just the way it comes out of his hand. I also want to see the command that he’s going to have. [It’s] kind of our first opportunity to be able to get him in person, so [I’m] excited to do that.

The news broke of Lawrence’s workout and injury last week. While it isn’t known how or when he sustained the injury, it is known that he’ll be ready for training camp. That would seem to indicate that the labrum injury to his non-throwing shoulder isn’t severe.

As for Bevell, he isn’t foreign to rookie quarterbacks after working with Russell Wilson during his first season and beyond. That said, fans should be very excited about the OTA and training camp phase as Bevell had a long and mostly successful run in Seattle.