We’re only six days into January, but the 2021 NFL Draft is already starting to fall into place.
Trevor Lawrence’s departure from college is officially official:
Thank you, Clemson… pic.twitter.com/JDbM8aYYGv
— Trevor Lawrence (@Trevorlawrencee) January 6, 2021
And with that, Lawrence says goodbye to Clemson and hello to a future in the NFL.
Lawrence figures to be taken with the first overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, which is currently held by the Jaguars. And with good reason. Lawrence has been a Heisman Trophy finalist, won three ACC championships, a national title, earned All-American accolades, and finishes with one of the most accomplished collegiate careers I’ve ever followed. If that résumé doesn’t have presumptive No. 1 overall pick written all over it, I don’t know what will.
The Bears (obviously) won’t be in a position to draft Lawrence this spring, but his declaring for the Draft continues to bring clarity to this year’s crop of draft-eligible quarterbacks.
Lawrence sits at the top of said list, but his mere presence pushes the likes of Justin Fields (Ohio State), Zach Wilson (BYU), and Trey Lance (North Dakota State) down the draft board. And in a way, that presents a potential opportunity to trade up if that prospect tickles your fancy. Or, should the Bears stick in the low 20s, maybe someone such as Mac Jones (Alabama) falls to them. And I suppose there’s a case to be made for Kyle Trask (Florida) being a prospect worth targeting in a trade-back scenario. In other words, Lawrence declaring for the draft has a trickle-down impact on the quarterback class as a whole. That’s not nothing. Especially for teams dreaming to draft a quarterback.
As it stands, only Lawrence, Wilson, Lance and Trask have made their intent to enter the draft official. That’s the makings of a decent class. But with others soon to join, it’s a collection of quarterbacks worth monitoring this offseason. Even if the Bears have no shot at the guy sitting atop the rankings.