Clemson's Trevor Lawrence: 2021 NFL Draft Decision Will Come in Next Day or So
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence lost the Heisman Trophy to Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith on Tuesday night, but he offered some insight into his next steps on the ESPN broadcast.
Lawrence said an update regarding his future will come "in the next day or so," but he added: "Obviously, the plan has been to move on" (h/t Matt Hayes).
The presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft would end his collegiate career with a 34-2 overall record and a perfect 34-0 record in the regular season.
Lawrence led Clemson to a national title over Alabama as a freshman. He suffered his only two losses in last year's championship game to Joe Burrow and LSU, and then last week against Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl.
The Heisman finalist completed 69.2 percent of his passes for 3,153 yards, 24 touchdowns and five interceptions for the 10-2 Tigers. Clemson's other loss this season came against Notre Dame, when Lawrence was sidelined for one of the two games he missed following his COVID-19 diagnosis.
If Lawrence does decide to declare for the NFL draft, he'll likely head to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who secured the No. 1 pick when they finished the 2020 campaign at 1-15.
Jaguars owner Shad Khan hinted Monday that if Lawrence is in the draft, they'll take him immediately.
"But what's evaded the history of the Jags, really, has been a franchise quarterback," he said. "And I think what's unique, certainly, is that we have the ability now to make a choice and it's going to define the franchise moving forward."
The Jaguars looked to Blake Bortles for the bulk of the 2015-18 campaigns and gave the reigns to sixth-round pick Gardner Minshew II in 2019. This year, Jacksonville rotated through a combination of Minshew, Mike Glennon and Jake Luton en route to its one-win finish.
