Jaguars begin new era, select Trevor Lawrence 1st overall in 2021 NFL Draft

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected quarterback Trevor Lawrence out of Clemson with the first overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Widely expected to select Lawrence with the No. 1 pick, Jacksonville will kick off a new era with the prodigious passer and new head coach Urban Meyer in 2021.

The Jaguars finished the 2020 campaign with an NFL-worst 1-15 record thanks in large part to instability at the quarterback position. Gardner Minshew started eight games, Mike Glennon started five, and Jake Luton started three. All three passers performed less than admirably.

Lawrence was a highly coveted prospect from the moment he stepped onto Clemson's campus. He led the Tigers to a national championship at the end of the 2018 season and was the 2020 Heisman Trophy runner-up in the final campaign of a stellar three-year stint with Clemson.

Jacksonville made a handful of offseason additions to its offense ahead of the draft, signing Marvin Jones, Carlos Hyde, and Phillip Dorsett in free agency and franchise tagging left tackle Cam Robinson.

The Jaguars also owned the 25th overall selection thanks to the trade that sent cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Los Angeles Rams. They used the pick to reunite Lawrence with former Clemson teammate Travis Etienne.

Draft profile

Key stats: 69.2 completion percentage, 3,153 passing yards, 24 TDs, 5 INTs, 8 rushing TDs

There's a reason Lawrence is heralded as a generational prospect and a shoo-in for the No. 1 overall selection. The kid has all the tools to succeed in the pros - his poise and pocket presence is advanced for a young quarterback, he displays absurd ball placement skills, and the 21-year-old is plenty athletic as a threat on scrambles. For all his strengths, Lawrence is an elite prospect due to how difficult it is to poke holes in his game. Clemson's offensive system and talent at receiver forced some aggressiveness and easy reads, but it's hardly a major area of concern. Lawrence sees the field very well and makes even the most complex areas of the position look effortless. Believe the hype.