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.