The NFL Draft 2021 got more interesting with the announcement by Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence about his future. The Heisman Trophy winner and 2020 runner-up released a social media video explaining his reasons for declaring for the NFL draft and thanking the college for his time there. The question will now turn to where the expected number one pick will play football on Sundays in 2021. The Jacksonville Jaguars currently hold the number one pick for 2021 but could be tempted to trade their pick.

 Trevor Lawrence is an undoubted winner at the college level, having won the National Championship in his freshman year and finishing as runner-up to LSU in the 2019-2020 season. Lawrence won his first 25 starts for the Tigers before the National Championship game with LSU gave him his first loss. This season was interrupted by a positive COVID-19 test, which led to him failing to play n the loss to Notre Dame. The quarterback finishes his college career with Clemson ranking third all-time in passing yards and second for touchdown passes. The impressive stats Lawrence has put up under Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has led to speculation about his position in the NFL draft.

 The logical thinking for the team with the number one pick in the NFL draft would be to draft a quarterback who has a proven pedigree at the top level of the college game. However, the Jacksonville Jaguars are in control of the number one pick and are thought to be considering their options. The history of the draft includes blockbuster trades by teams in search of the best player on offer. The New York Jets are a name mentioned as considering making a move for Lawrence to relaunch their franchise.

The key to the future of Lawrence in the NFL Draft 2021 appears to be held by whoever takes the Jaguars coaching job. Urban Meyer is the number one choice of the owners, with his messages about the draft seen as mixed, at best. Meyer is said to be excited by the chance of coaching a once-in-a-lifetime talent like Lawrence. The emergence of Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields has thrown a spanner in the works of Lawrence’s path to Florida because of Meyer’s links to the Buckeyes. The Jets are expected to try and trade up for Lawrence and allow Meyer to link up with his fellow Ohio State alum, Justin Fields.