Summary

William Trevor Lawrence was selected in the 1st Round (#1 Overall) in the 2021 Draft out of Clemson University. At Clemson, Lawrence started as a true freshman and led the team to a National Championship in 2018, finishing his college career with 10,098 passing yards, 90 passing touchdowns, and 17 interceptions, while maintaining a career completion percentage of 66%. He earned ACC Rookie of the Year (2018), ACC Player of the Year (2020), and Consensus All-American honors. Known for his elite arm talent, poise, and football IQ, Lawrence is also widely respected for his work ethic, leadership, and character, both on and off the field. Despite entering the NFL with high expectations, he has shown the ability to develop under challenging circumstances, overcoming early struggles to lead Jacksonville’s offense and build toward sustained success.

Strengths

• Elite Arm Talent: Exceptional arm strength capable of making every throw on the field — deep, intermediate, and touch passes into tight windows. Lawrence has had some highlight throws, especially when rolling to his left, that only a handful of humans can make.

• Pocket Poise: Beginning in the latter half of 2025, Lawrence remains calm and composed under pressure and does well to climb the pocket to attack intermediate and deep routes with big time throws..

• Football IQ & Processing: Since pairing with Liam Coen, Lawrence has taken immense steps in reading defenses quickly and makes pre-snap adjustments. Shows understanding of coverage concepts and progressions.

• Athleticism & Mobility: Looking at the numbers, the long strider’s movement skills to extend plays, escape pressure, and gain yards on the ground when necessary is on par with some of the best in the league.

Weaknesses

• Deep Ball Accuracy Consistency: While capable of elite throws, occasionally underthrows or overthrows deep targets and is still building a rhythm and rapport with some of his young receivers, particularly Brian Thomas Jr. One of only players in 2025 season to not complete a 40+ yard air pass.

• Turnover Worthy Plays: Early career turnovers highlighted the adjustment required to handle NFL speed and complex defenses, where Lawrence has been in the top end of giveaways.

• Pocket Footwork: A complete tear down and work in progress with Coen, Lawrence had a habit of relying too much on arm strength rather than optimal footwork, leading to off-balance throws under pressure and sailing passes high.

• Inconsistent Supporting Cast: Offensive line and receiving personnel fluctuations have sometimes limited his performance, impacting development and consistency.

Outlook

Lawrence is a franchise quarterback suited to offenses that value structured passing concepts, timing routes, and play-action opportunities, where his arm talent and football IQ can be fully leveraged. He thrives in “Let it Rip” NFL systems that provide strong pass protection and utilize intermediate passing concepts, while also allowing occasional designed mobility to capitalize on his athleticism. Looking forward, Lawrence’s ceiling is elite, with the potential to be a perennial Pro Bowl quarterback if surrounded by strong offensive support and coaching continuity. His leadership and character make him a natural face of the franchise, and continued development in pocket mechanics, decision-making under pressure, and deep ball accuracy will allow him to maximize his elite physical tools. With his talent and mindset, Lawrence projects as a long-term cornerstone quarterback capable of leading a team to playoff contention and Super Bowl-level performance.