Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is dealing with pressures and expectations that come with being a No. 1 overall pick that not many people can relate to or understand. Trevor Lawrence gets it, though.
After getting picked first overall in the 2021 NFL draft, Lawrence came to the Jacksonville Jaguars as one of the most highly touted quarterback prospects in the last couple decades. The Clemson alum struggled as a rookie, leading the NFL in interceptions in 2021, before thriving in year two and earning Pro Bowl honors.
On Wednesday, Lawrence said he hopes Young’s rookie season goes a little more smoothly than his own before offering a bit of advice for the Panthers quarterback.
“I think it’s just managing those expectations, because what are expectations anyways?” Lawrence said. “It doesn’t really matter what people think you should do or you’re going to do, it doesn’t really matter at the end of the day. As long as the guys in the locker room trust and have faith in you and you keep getting better every day, I think that’s what success looks like.
“Obviously, it’s winning as many games as possible. It’s hard to say how many that’s going to be and you don’t know the set of obstacles that are going to be in front of you. You just have to go with that mindset everyday of getting better and not letting bad plays and bad games get in your head. Just continuing to turn the page over, learn from the good, learn from the bad, and continue growing.”
Unlike Lawrence, Young isn’t joining a team that finished with the worst record in the NFL. The Panthers’ 7-10 record in 2022 earned them the ninth overall selection and they brokered a deal with the Chicago Bears to move up eight spots to take the top passer of the class.
Still, Young is joining a team that was 29th in total offense last year and traded away its No. 1 receiver D.J. Moore as part of the deal to get the top draft pick. Only five teams have worse odds on BetMGM to win the Super Bowl this season.
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