trevor lawrence – Page 197 – Syndication Server

Trask ranked among the top quarterbacks for the 2021 NFL Draft

Here’s what CBS’ Ryan Wilson had to say about putting Kyle Trask in the No. 4 spot behind Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields and Trey Lance.

Many media figures around the country may not have known his name heading into the 2019 season, but UF quarterback Kyle Trask’s performance filling in for Feleipe Franks, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the third game, has attracted some attention.

With the 2020 season (hopefully) on the horizon, the Gators’ signal-caller is ranked among the top passers in college football, listed at No. 4 on a watchlist for the 2021 NFL Draft from CBS Sports.

Trask is behind Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields, both incredibly talented quarterbacks who led their respective schools to playoff appearances in 2019. Fields was also a Heisman finalist along with his teammate Chase Young and LSU’s Joe Burrow, who won the award.

He’s also behind North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, who has gotten some attention this offseason after scoring 42 total touchdowns last season (28 passing and 14 rushing). Lance, who plays in the FCS, may not be a household name, but playing for the powerhouse Bison should allow him ample opportunity to show off his skills, albeit at a lower level than the other passers on this list.

Here’s what CBS’ Ryan Wilson had to say about putting Trask in the No. 4 spot behind Lawrence, Fields and Lance.

“Steady as she goes” might be the best way to describe Trask’s game. He’s not flashy but he’s efficient, and in the NFL the ability to do the right thing from one play to the next is more important than flashing once a series while drives stall out. Before taking over for Feleipe Franks last season, Trask had played in just three games. He played in 12 games in 2019 and completed 66.9 percent of his throws with 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Trask’s nickname should be ‘Textbook’ because his footwork in the pocket is consistently on point, and more importantly, he gets the ball out on time, accurately, and he rarely looks confused by what he sees pre-snap. While we’re not expecting him to make a Burrow-like leap in ’20 we wouldn’t be surprised if he continues to improve and Trask finds his way into Round 1 conversations in the spring.

Trask is listed ahead of the No. 5 quarterback, Georgia’s Jamie Newman, who is a graduate transfer from Wake Forest that joined the Bulldogs this spring. He’s also ranked above several notable quarterbacks in the “Other Names to Watch” list, including conference foes in Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond and Mississippi State’s grad transfer K.J. Costello, as well as rival Miami’s D’Eriq King.

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How will not having a packed Notre Dame Stadium effect games?

Will it hurt or help the Irish this season without full crowds in Notre Dame Stadium?

At this current moment, it is hard to imagine the possibility of any collegiate football game having a packed house. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many states limiting large group gatherings which means having 80,000 Fighting Irish friends on a Saturday in South Bend very unlikely.

With that in mind, 247Sports took a look at which teams are helped and hurt by not having full crowds in stadiums this coming season. Chris Hummer named Clemson as a school that it helps, as if the Tigers needed any extra help anyways. The key games Hummer points out for the Dabo Swinney led team are at Florida State and then when they would visit South Bend.

A team that returns stars like quarterback Trevor Lawrence, running back Travis Etienne and linebacker Jamie Skalski will be a tough game for anyone, but not having a raucous Irish crowd definitely won’t help the cause. The college game relies much more on home field advantage than the NFL, it would be fantastic to see the fans making a difference by potentially rattling the Tigers. Unfortunately, that doesn’t look like it will be the case this fall and the Irish will have to battle Clemson without the help of a packed Notre Dame Stadium.

2021 NFL mock draft: Trevor Lawrence falls to Panthers at No. 4 overall

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is expected to be the top pick in next year’s NFL draft.

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is expected to be the top pick in next year’s NFL draft. That’s hardly a guarantee, though. There’s still presumably a whole college season to be played before the draft and things can change, especially if someone like Ohio State’s Justin Fields has a standout season.

If that happens, it’s possible Lawrence could slip within the range of the Carolina Panthers. In a new 2021 mock draft by Brent Sobleski at Bleacher Report, that’s exactly what happens. He has Lawrence falling to the Panthers, who hold the No. 4 overall pick in this scenario. Here’s what he said.

“Trevor Lawrence’s availability to the Panthers would be a dream come true for the franchise. Lawrence may not be the type of prospect he’s billed to be, but he’s still a fantastic talent. At 6’6″ and 220 pounds with outstanding natural arm talent and athleticism, the preferred physical tools are present.”

It’s hard not to be excited about the potential of Lawrence being the team’s next starting QB. However, it won’t be quite so easy to move on from their current one, at least in 2021.

Sobleski notes that the team could save $8 million in cap room if they cut Teddy Bridgewater after June 1. However, that move would also come with a brutal $15 million dead cap hit, which is too much to stomach and would be awful management.

If the Panthers aren’t satisfied with what Bridgewater puts on tape in 2020, there’s a good chance they’ll draft a new QB. Cutting him probably won’t happen until 2022 no matter what happens, though. That year, the team can save $21 million in room with only a $5 million dead cap hit (post June 1).

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2021 NFL mock draft: A surprise pick at No. 1?

If he doesn’t go No. 1 overall, how far could Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence fall in the 2021 NFL Draft?

Ever since his stellar freshman season at Clemson, it’s seemed a forgone conclusion that quarterback Trevor Lawrence would be the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft as soon as he was eligible.

But what if someone else takes the top spot next April?

That’s what happens in the latest 2021 NFL mock draft from Bleacher Report, which has Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields knocking Lawrence off the top of the mountain, landing at No. 1 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Lawrence falls to No. 4 overall in this projection, heading to the Carolina Panthers after Washington takes Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell, and the Cincinnati Bengals add Joe Burrow’s former LSU teammate, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Lawrence would have to be considered a huge steal at that point, and it’s hard to imagine Washington passing on a quarterback if they’re still picking that high after two years of Dwayne Haskins under center.

https://its-always-draft-szn.simplecast.com/episodes/its-always-mock-draft-season

The next quarterback comes off the board at No. 7 overall, where the Detroit Lions pull the trigger on North Dakota State’s Trey Lance. Just a reshirt sophomore, Lance would be in a perfect situation in Detroit, able to sit behind an experienced veteran in Matthew Stafford for at least a year before having to take over the starting job.

The only other quarterback to make the cut in this first-round mock is Georgia’s Jamie Newman, a transfer from Wake Forest who heads to the Chicago Bears at No. 14 overall to end the failed Mitchell Trubisky era in the Windy City.

To check out the full mock draft at Bleacher Report, click here.

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The Athletic lists Florida’s Kyle Trask among best 2021 draft-eligible quarterbacks

The highest-ranked senior to appear on the list, Florida’s Kyle Trask slotted in at No. 4 noting his mental approach as his strongest asset.

Headlined by LSU Tiger Joe Burrow, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, and followed closely by Alabama standout Tua Tagovailoa and Oregon Duck Justin Herbert, three quarterbacks were selected in the first six picks of the 2020 National Football League Draft.

The Athletic’s Dave Brugler peeked ahead at the likely chart-topping names in the 2021 class, releasing his rankings of the five best draft-eligible signal-callers on July 9 (subscription required).

For each prospect, Brugler identified their best trait, as well as an area they must improve.

Not surprisingly, Clemson Tigers junior Trevor Lawrence occupied the No. 1 spot on his list. Viewed as a future top pick since he claimed the starting job from Kelly Bryant in 2018, Lawrence’s athletic arm talent was noted as his best trait, while Brugler said he would like to see the Cartersville (Georgia) product improve his placement consistency.

Underclassmen made up the No. 2 & 3 spots, as well, in the form of North Dakota State Bison redshirt sophomore Trey Lance and Ohio State Buckeyes junior Justin Fields, respectively.

The highest-ranked senior to appear on the list, Florida’s Kyle Trask slotted in at No. 4. Noting his mental approach as his strongest asset, here is what Brugler had to say about the positives in Trask’s game.

“The first takeaway from Trask’s tape is his mental grasp of the position. He understands timing, trajectory and touch while reading the entire field and working his progressions. Trask’s ability to win with his mind is impressive, but it is even more encouraging when considering his relative inexperience (last season was his first as a full-time starter since his freshman year of high school).”

As for the area the Manvel, Texas export needs to improve, Brugler pointed to his tendency to attempt low-percentage passes.

“Trask has impressive tape considering his inexperience, but his lack of on-field reps also shows at times, especially when it comes to low-percentage throws.

“While he isn’t careless with the football, he can be overconfident at times, forcing throws into heavy coverage. Trask has good-but-not-great velocity on his throws, which also lowers his margin for error. Entering his final college season, scouts want to see Trask eliminate those low-percentage throws.”

Rounding out the top-five was Texas Longhorns senior Sam Ehlinger, a player who has served as a starter since his freshman year in Austin.

Throwing for 2,941 yards, 25 touchdowns and just seven interceptions while guiding the Gators to an 8-2 record in his starts a year ago, Trask is aiming to become the program’s first quarterback to be selected in the NFL Draft since Tim Tebow was chosen by the Denver Broncos at No. 25 in 2010.

Tentatively, Trask and Florida are slated to begin their 2020 campaign at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 5 against the Eastern Washington Eagles. As we have seen with the Big Ten (B1G) announcing a conference-only schedule on July 9, there is a possibility — perhaps a strong possibility — this will change.

Southeastern Conference (SEC) athletic directors are scheduled to meet with the league’s commissioner, Greg Sankey, in Birmingham, Alabama on July 13 to discuss their options for the upcoming season, with a decision and a formal announcement expected later in the month.

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Jags land QB Trevor Lawrence, OG Rashawn Slater 2021 mock draft

As we await the beginning of the 2020 NFL season, many mock drafts for next year’s draft has surfaced on the web with the Jacksonville Jaguars making some interesting selections. As they did last year, they will once again have two first-round picks …

Most 2021 mocks have slotted the Jags to the No. 1 overall pick (using win projections by Vegas) with Trevor Lawrence as their selection, and the most recent by 247 Sports is no different. Simply put, they deemed Lawrence as a prospect that can do anything, which would be great for the Jags who have a rough history with quarterbacks.

After a terrible season and/or awesome tank job, the Jags score their biggest win of the year: the No. 1 overall draft pick, with which they’ll select the Clemson star. Will he be worth it? As the 247Sports early 2021 NFL Draft board says, “There’s nothing Lawrence can’t do at quarterback.”

We’ve been on record for saying that we don’t believe the Jags are “first overall pick bad” with rosters that appear better than teams like the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, and Cincinnati Bengals to name a few. One reason they could end up better than those teams may be due to Gardner Minshew II taking another step after showing promise in 2019, though nothing is guaranteed.

As for landing the No. 1 overall pick, it’s hard to envision them in the three-win area, but if they are, it’s certainly not a loss in the case of landing Lawrence, who many pundits have praised highly.

The Jags ended up making their second selection (from the Rams) at the No. 16 spot. There, they bolstered the interior of their offensive line with guard Rashawn Slater from Northwestern.

With Trevor Lawrence in their arsenal, the Jags further bolster the NFL’s second-worst offense in 2019 — and protect their new QB — with the towering Northwestern guard, Rashawn Slater. Per CBS Sports, the 6-foot-4 Slater has now filled out to 305 pounds.

This is a pick many fans can get on board with because the offensive line has long been a concern. Many haven’t been happy with what they’ve gotten out of Andrew Norwell, who was once the highest-paid guard in football. Slater could then join the Jags’ fourth-round pick Ben Bartch, who should be ready to take over for right guard A.J. Cann in 2021.

With the Jags selecting mostly defensive players in 2020, they very well could be in position to bolster the offense in 2021’s draft. If the Jags register approximately three wins, selecting two prospects like Lawrence and Slater would make a ton of sense because a low win total would almost certainly fall on Minshew and the o-line coming up short.

Philadelphia Eagles land All-American WR in way too early 2021 NFL mock draft

Philadelphia Eagles land All-American WR Rashod Bateman in way too early 2021 NFL mock draft

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The Eagles are expecting huge things from Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson, in what could be the final season for both players in Philadelphia.

During the 2020 NFL Draft, the Eagles added Jalen Reagor (TCU), John Hightower (Boise State), and Quez Watkins (Southern Miss). The hope is that all three players have productive rookie seasons and allow the Birds to solidify the wide receiver spot.

If for some reason one or two of those players don’t pan out, the Birds will have plenty of options coming out in 2021. In the first of a way too early 2021 mock draft from 24/7 Sports, the Eagles land Minnesota All-American Rashod Bateman late in the first round.

27. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: RASHOD BATEMAN, MINNESOTA, WR

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound standout is an “an alpha receiver … [with] physical tools [that] are off the charts,” raves Pro Football Talk. PFT is so high on Bateman, it has him ranked higher among receivers than Ja’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, and DeVonta Smith.

A Georgia native, Bateman spurned SEC schools to attend Minnesota and he hasn’t looked back ever since.

Bateman started at wide receiver as a true freshman and set a Golden Gophers freshman record with 51 receptions, 704 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

Last season as a true sophomore, Bateman was named a semifinalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award and first-team All-Big Ten after catching 57 passes for 1,170 yards (20.5 yards per catch) and 11 touchdowns.

Bateman earned Second-team All-American by Sports Illustrated and USA Today and was a third-team selection by the Associated Press.

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2021 NFL mock draft: Is Trevor Lawrence already a lock at No. 1?

Is Clemson quarterback already the runaway favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft?

It’s still just July, but if early projections for the 2021 NFL Draft are any indication, next year’s No. 1 overall pick might already be locked up.

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence already appears to be the heavy favorite to be the first selection come next April, and the latest 2021 NFL mock draft from 247 Sports reinforces that assumption, sending him to the Jacksonville Jaguars in their most recent projection.

The next quarterback off the board in this mock is Ohio State’s Justin Fields, who lands with the Carolina Panthers at No. 4 overall. North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, a redshirt sophomore and one of the biggest potential wild-cards in next year’s class, is mocked to the Indianapolis Colts at No. 17 overall in this projection.

https://its-always-draft-szn.simplecast.com/episodes/madden-21-vent-session-predicting-the-nfls-leading-rusher-and-more

Iowa State’s Brock Purdy is the only other quarterback to land in these top 32 picks, heading to the New Orleans Saints at No. 31 overall. Other top prospects in next year’s quarterback class, such as Georgia’s Jamie Newman and Minnesota’s Tanner Morgan, don’t make the cut.

Some of the biggest surprise picks in this mock include Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle going to the Miami Dolphins at No. 5 overall, and the Chicago Bears opting for Clemson running back Travis Etienne at No. 19 overall.

To check out the complete first-round projection at 247 Sports, including some other names to keep an eye on outside the top 32 picks, click here.

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2021 NFL mock draft: Which teams land top QB prospects?

See who lands next year’s top QB prospects in the latest 2021 NFL mock draft

It’s never too early for a mock draft, and we already have a handful of projections for next year’s event, showing off a loaded class with big names on both sides of the ball.

Top quarterback prospects like Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields are likely to battle for the No. 1 overall pick, while there are some worthy challengers at other positions, especially if that pick isn’t secured by a QB-needy team.

The latest 2021 NFL mock draft comes from Pro Football Network, and it kicks off with a no-brainer, as the Jacksonville Jaguars opt for Lawrence at No. 1 overall as their quarterback of the future. Fields lands at No. 4 overall to the Carolina Panthers, giving new head coach Matt Rhule a backup plan if Teddy Bridgewater doesn’t live up to expectations.

https://its-always-draft-szn.simplecast.com/episodes/its-always-mock-draft-season

A third quarterback sneaks into the top 10 in this mock, as North Dakota State’s Trey Lance heads to the Detroit Lions at No. 8 overall. Matthew Stafford still has plenty left in the tank, but for a redshirt sophomore like Lance, going to a team that could allow him to sit for a year or two would be an ideal landing spot.

Two more quarterbacks find their way into the top 32 picks in this two-round projection, as Iowa State’s Brock Purdy lands with the Indianapolis Colts at No. 19 overall, while Wake Forest-to-Georgia transfer Jamie Newman goes to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 25 overall.

The most surprising picks in this mock’s top 10? Purdue wide receiver Rondale Moore at No. 7 overall to the New York Giants, and Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 9 overall. Big-name wide receivers like Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman and Alabama’s DeVonta Smith being left out of the first round was equally surprising.

To check out the full two-round projection at Pro Football Network, click here.

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2021 NFL mock draft: 3 QB prospects in top 10, but in what order?

See where Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields and Trey Lance land in this latest 2021 NFL mock draft

We’re still nearly a year away from the 2021 NFL draft, but that hasn’t stopped us from making way-too-early projections for next year’s big offseason event.

The conversation always centers around the top quarterback prospects, and next year’s class promises to deliver plenty in that department. Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, Ohio State’s Justin Fields and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance are all getting preseason hype as potential top-10 picks, and are already battling it out for that No. 1 overall spot.

In the latest 2021 NFL mock draft from Bleacher Report, Lawrence gets the nod at No. 1, heading to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Fields lands in Washington at No. 2 overall, while Lance goes to the Detroit Lions at No. 9 overall.

Lawrence and Fields are expected by most to fight for that top spot, with Lance as the dark-horse challenger coming from the FCS level, similar to what we saw from Carson Wentz when he came out of Fargo. Lawrence saw some regression last season after a stunning freshman campaign, but he’s still the easy pick to go No. 1, unless Fields takes things to another level in 2020.

https://its-always-draft-szn.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-1

Gardner Minshew is entertaining, but his presence shouldn’t keep the Jags from taking a rare prospect like Lawrence if they do indeed land next year’s top pick. Washington would have to be convinced that Dwayne Haskins, the No. 15 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, isn’t worth passing on the next-best quarterback in the 2021 class in order to take Fields at No. 2. Lance in Detroit would be ideal, as the redshirt sophomore would get to sit behind an established veteran in Matthew Stafford for at least one season before having to start.

The only other quarterback to crack this first-round mock is Jamie Newman, who is transferring from Wake Forest to Georgia to take over for Jake Fromm. This projection sends him to New Orleans in the latter part of the round, where he would join what looks like a loaded depth chart for now, with Drew Brees currently listed alongside both Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston.

To check out the full mock draft at Bleacher Report, click here.

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