Jaguars draft: Trevor Lawrence doesn’t owe anyone an explanation

It looks like the Jacksonville Jaguars will take Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and they surely feel confident about some comments he recently made. However, not everybody was pleased with what he had to say, so he decided to clarify his remarks.

Lawrence recently told Michael Rosenberg of Sports Illustrated that he doesn’t have a chip on his shoulder and added that he doesn’t have to prove anyone wrong. However, instead of being praised for showing maturing and striving for balance in his life, his desired to be great was questioned, so he took to social media to explain what he meant.

The Clemson standout said that he doesn’t need external motivation to be driven and assured everyone that he loves football. Later, Lawrence added that he knows who he is and what he wants in life.

"I am internally motivated, I love football as much or more than anyone. It is a HUGE priority in my life, obviously. I am driven to be the best I can be, and to maximize my potential… I am secure in who I am, and what I believe. I don’t need football to make me feel worthy as a person."

Trevor Lawrence didn’t have to explain himself.

Some would love to see Lawrence posting pictures of himself working out and dripping in sweat. However, that’s not who he is. Based on his comments, it seems like he’s striving for balance and doesn’t want to prioritize one facet of his life over another. He doesn’t need to explain himself for living life the way he sees fit.

Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer said Lawrence has all the traits great quarterbacks possess, so it looks like the team that is going to make him the first overall pick doesn’t have any concerns about his approach. After all, other players have shown they can have other projects besides football and still have success on the football field.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers just went on to host Jeopardy! and Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski has managed to have as much fun as he can outside the football field and could end up enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

When should the Jacksonville Jaguars start worrying?

Certainly not right now. Lawrence would have to be a colossal bust for the Jaguars to start double-guessing him. Think of Johnny Manziel or Ryan Leaf; they made it clear football wasn’t their main interest and promptly flopped. Meanwhile, Lawrence already made it clear he loves football.

You could argue the former Tigers quarterback should breathe and live football the way Tom Brady does, but that would be a pretty lofty bar for the Clemson product to clear, as TB12 is the greatest quarterback in NFL history.

A more healthy approach would be to set reasonable expectations for Lawrence. While others need to be pressured to attain an objective, he is aware of the work he needs to put in to succeed in the NFL and he shouldn’t apologize for it.