The 2021 NFL Rookie QB Chronicles- #2
If I am going to write about rookie QBs, it seems fairly obvious I need to start with Trevor Lawrence. As always, let me start by again saying I am just a fan like you. I am just restating things I have heard and seen, and am providing some opinions as well. We can still be friends if you disagree with anything I write. Isn’t that one of the fun things about being a sports fan? The debate? I think so. As long as we keep it respectful.
Let me begin by talking about the “generational” tag that has been placed on Trevor ever since his rookie year at Clemson. This has become a big point of debate. The term itself has come to mean a once in a 20-year prospect. I don’t think it’s been 20 years since Andrew Luck came out of Stanford. So, is Trevor Lawrence better than Andrew Luck? The tape doesn’t show it if you actually take the time to watch. But the tape is not the only determinant. Truth be told, it is something fans can debate about until the issue resolves itself through time and measurable production. But let’s talk about why it may have been a leap to call Trevor generational after his freshman year.
Clemson has been a national powerhouse for as far back as I can remember. It has never surprised me to see them ranked in the top 10 in the nation. Yet, many of their QBs never saw a play in the NFL. So, it seems fair enough to say that if you put a future NFL quarterback in that system, that would be enough to put them over the top to win a national championship. That convinces me that Trevor Lawrence is going to most likely be a legitimate NFL quarterback. But does that make him generational? Does that mean he will be an elite NFL quarterback? If you put a 19-year-old Joe Flacco in the quarterback slot in Clemson, is it safe to say that he would lead an already established top program to a national championship? I think it is more than fair to say he might.
But none of this is evidence against the potential of Trevor Lawrence. I am simply pointing out that winning all those games at Clemson is not enough to know for sure. Let’s take a moment to look at his strengths. I want to start by saying this kid is big and tough. He is not at all fragile. He is not afraid to go hard for those extra yards, and may even need to be taught not to in order to preserve his health. But fire and toughness are definitely part of his game. He has jumped up off the ground after taking huge hits and has run back to the huddle without pause. After completing a positive play, his tendency to jump up after taking a huge hit, pumped up his teammates. He is a talented rusher that can scramble for positive yardage, as well as execute on designed running plays calling his number. He does not look to run too early on a play and let it overshadow his ability to toss the rock.
While some might argue he does not have the arm talent or the accuracy to be referred to as generational, he excels in those areas enough to be a successful or even great NFL quarterback for sure. One Jacksonville YouTuber suggests he is not the best in any of the categories that determine a great quarterback, but simultaneously points out he is one of the best in ALL of those measurements. Do you have to be the best in any or all the categories to be considered generational? Andrew Luck was not the best athlete, but many argued he was generational.
What do I think? I think who cares? I think all that matters are the results. Jacksonville fans want a leader who will bring them championships. The last thing they should be worried about are labels like “generational” and the semantics of what that means.
So, what do I think about Trevor Lawrence? Let me tell you. I think he is the safest pick to be an at least average NFL quarterback. I believe he might become a great NFL quarterback. I think he is a very good leader, and has good character. I do not think he has the highest upside of the five quarterbacks taken in the first round. I believe there are two prospects with higher upsides. I say that with no disrespect to Trevor, and would not be surprised at all if he ends up having the best career of all the guys taken.
The reason I think there are two rookies with a higher ceiling is simply because we have seen a lot of Trevor. And while he has been consistently fantastic, Trevor does not look much better now than he did as a freshman. I fully acknowledge that could be because there is a limit to how much he could grow after starting so strong. In future blogs, I will get to the guys that were still strongly trending upwards, and have convinced me their ceiling could be higher.
I believe Jacksonville was right to take Trevor Lawrence with the first pick. He is the safest choice based on experience in big games, and the consistency he has proven with his play. No GM is going to get fired for picking a prospect like Trevor and being wrong. But they’d definitely be on the hot seat if they’d passed on him and are later proven wrong.
I want to report something that may be concerning, but shouldn’t panic Jacksonville fans. While the team has been praising Trevor, the media got to witness him throwing five picks in the red zone, with two returned for touchdowns. That is not what you want to see, but don’t jump off a bridge, Jaguar fans. He may have been taking shots to receivers who were not open instead of taking the sack. It doesn’t mean he would make those attempts in a real game. He may also be testing his ability to throw into tight windows. When better to test yourself then during practice? But it’s something I will follow when camp resumes in August.
There are a lot of positive observations and reports coming out of Jacksonville as well. Aside from that bad day in practice, there are reports Trevor is looking like he is just as advertised. He has been impressive in some of the throws he has been making, and his teammates are responding very well to him. All of his teammates showed up for all, or part of OTA’s. Trevor’s arrival to camp started with a reunion with Travis Etienne, and it was clear in the video coverage there is great rapport there. Trevor was not only the choice of Urban Meyer, but a big part of the reason he took the head coaching position at Jacksonville. According to insiders the staff and players are all meshing well, and Trevor is off to a great start.
Aside from the concern of the one very public “bad practice” Trevor also has a small issue with his hamstring. It was not serious enough to keep him out of 7 on 7 drills, but they are being cautious. He should be good to go at the start of camp.
The SacmanNFLReport (Jeremy Krevat)