5 Potential NFL Landing Spots for Lawrence
Let the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes begin.
While NFL free agency and draft have helped shape what the 2020 season will look like, the "Tank for Trevor" campaign has likely been underway for several teams.
The Clemson quarterback is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and even though there will be some competition with Ohio State's Justin Fields, there are several franchises looking to add the gifted passer to their rosters. Here's a look at five potential landing spots come next spring for Lawrence:
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1. Jacksonville Jaguars
This is a franchise in total flux. It’s traded away key veterans in the last two seasons. It’s rebuilding on both sides of the ball. It hasn’t committed to a long-term quarterback. And most importantly for this exercise, it won’t be any good in 2020.
Jacksonville has the lowest win total (4.5) of any NFL team on betonline.ag. Second-year QB Gardner Minshew is currently the starter. There won't be a reunion between recently-released QB Andy Dalton with offensive coordinator Jay Gruden; Dalton signed with Dallas. The Jaguars don't have to fully commit to Minshew yet, so Lawrence would give them an instant face of the franchise and real hope for the future.
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2. Carolina Panthers
The upcoming season isn’t expected to be a great one in Charlotte. The Panthers brought in a new coach in Matt Rhule, traded or let go of several veterans, like franchise QB Cam Newton, and drafted nothing but defensive players last week. It’s a true rebuild, especially in a competitive division, but Carolina did lock up running back Christian McCaffrey long term and signed free-agent QB Teddy Bridgewater for essentially two years.
The Panthers could very well address the future of the position next April, and despite never drafting a Clemson player, Lawrence would be the perfect fit.
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3. Washington Redskins
With a win total of 5.5 and a QB situation in flux, you can’t count out the Redskins drafting a replacement for Dwayne Haskins in 2021. After all, the team reportedly flirted with the idea of taking Tua Tagovailoa at No. 2 overall recently.
Haskins, a 2019 first-round pick, didn’t blow anybody away with his skills or leadership as a rookie in his second-half season audition. With new coaches and front-office members calling the shots, it’s hard to believe the Redskins would pass on a generational talent like Lawrence if they’re in a position to get him unless Haskins takes massive steps forward this fall.
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4. Detroit Lions
Former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford isn’t getting any younger, and there were plenty of trade rumors flying during the offseason. But the Lions are staying put with the 11-year veteran...for now.
While Stafford has been productive numbers-wise, it’s never really gotten the franchise far. He has three years remaining on his current contract and will be a $33 million cap hit in 2021. Expect the Lions, who picked third overall in 2020, to be near the top of the pecking order again next spring, and if they can dump Stafford, a move to get Lawrence would make a lot of sense.
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5. New England Patriots
Bill Belichick didn’t let the greatest QB in NFL history walk away without a plan for the future. The Patriots head coach and architect of six Super Bowl wins heads into 2020 with former Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham as his starter. It’s hard to think Stidham is going to be the next Tom Brady.
Maybe Belichick, who made no attempt to draft a QB recently either, is eyeing one of the best prospects in years. It would take a complete tank (unlikely) or a drastic move up the draft order (not something he’s done before) to get Lawrence, but it’s worth monitoring regardless.
