Trevor Lawrence cannot enter the NFL draft until 2021, but that has not stopped the Clemson quarterback from already getting buzz at the next level. ESPN’s Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. both believe Lawrence would be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft over Joe Burrow if he was eligible to declare. Kiper explained why Lawrence would get the edge over Burrow if the Clemson quarterback was eligible for the draft.
But Lawrence would be the clear No. 1 prospect in this class if he were eligible, ahead of Burrow and Ohio State pass-rusher Chase Young, who I have ranked No. 1. Lawrence is just that good, a 6-foot-6 specimen with every physical trait NFL teams look for in a top-tier starting quarterback.
Lawrence’s stock is so high some analysts have suggested that the Clemson quarterback should sit out the 2020 college football season to avoid risking a serious injury. This does not appear to be in the Clemson quarterback’s plans.
Lawrence Will Not Sit Out the 2020 Season
When asked about potentially sitting out the 2020 season, Lawrence dismissed the idea noting it was not something he was considering. Lawrence described the chance to play at Clemson as “really special.”
“I think it’s just people who don’t understand college football and what I came here to do,” Lawrence noted, per Sports Illustrated. “And just to be a part of a school like Clemson and a team like this is really special to me. I wouldn’t throw that year away to just sit out in case of injury or whatever it may be. So I think just those people don’t understand the position that we’re in and it’s not just about money or whatever. It’s about just being part of a team and really enjoying being with the guys that you’ve been here with the past couple of years.”
Lawrence Will Likely Be Battling Justin Fields to Be the No. 1 Pick in the 2021 NFL Draft
Lawrence may be the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft but he will have competition. Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields put together a stellar sophomore campaign in his first season as a starter after transferring from Georgia. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported earlier this season that Fields is gaining ground on Lawrence.
Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence may have competition from Ohio State’s Justin Fields, based on how Fields is playing, to be the first pick in 2021. I’d still [say] Lawrence is a heavy favorite, but that this is even a discussion is a huge [compliment] to Fields.
Both players will have an additional season to make their case to be the top quarterback selected in 2021 draft. ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit believes Lawrence’s skill set will translate to the NFL.
“But he’s as good as they say,” Herbstreit said on The Dan Patrick Show early in the 2019 season, per 247 Sports. “He’s the best I’ve seen. Andrew Luck was really good, when you start thinking of who will transition to the NFL, Luck was one coming out of college you could not wait to see what he’d do. The one that comes to mind before that is Peyton Manning, where you just look at him and think, ‘OK. This guy is going to go to the NFL and have a great career.’”