Yahoo Finance Trevor Lawrence hedges on leaving Clemson for NFL this year: 'Who knows?'
In September, Trevor Lawrence said that 2020 would be “my last year” as Clemson’s quarterback.
On Tuesday he didn’t sound so sure.
The presumed No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL draft hedged a bit when talking with reporters ahead of Saturday’s Tigers game against Boston College.
“My mindset has been that I'm going to move on,” Lawrence said. “But who knows? There's a lot of things that could happen.”
Why wouldn’t Lawrence cash in on high NFL draft status?
Why wouldn’t Lawrence, a junior, cash in on the riches and prestige that come with being the No. 1 pick in the draft? He already has a national championship. He’s a favorite to win another this season and to claim the Heisman Trophy. Other than the love of the college game, there’s very little incentive to return for his senior season.
Could it have something to do with the New York Jets?
Bad to worse for Jets
The Jets fell to 0-7 on Sunday. They’re the favorite to secure the No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft and very well could finish 0-16. Leadership under head coach Adam Gase and general manager Joe Douglas is a mess. They’re arguably the most dysfunctional franchise in football.
This is not a new phenomenon in New York. The Jets last played in a Super Bowl in 1969 and have been a beacon of NFL mediocrity throughout their existence. They’ve posted one winning record in the past nine seasons.
What about Sam Darnold?
The Jets spent the No. 3 pick in the draft on Sam Darnold in 2018. Two-plus seasons and an 11-20 record later, there’s nothing to indicate this is a marriage that’s going to work out. The Jets would surely jump at the chance to draft Lawrence, an elite NFL prospect.
If Lawrence were to look at the Jets and take a hard pass on playing for them, most reasonable people wouldn’t blame him.
Lawrence, of course, didn’t mention the Jets on Tuesday. He just expects things to work out, however they may fall — with whatever decision he makes.
“No matter where I go — whether that's across the country or whether it's close to home, whether I stay another year — we'll work it out.”
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