Carolina Panthers: Why the NFL might have to wait for Trevor Lawrence

The Carolina Panthers might not be in a position to select Trevor Lawrence in 2021, but the quarterback should consider making the NFL wait.

All eyes will be on Trevor Lawrence following the college season. But he might just be thinking twice about entering the NFL Draft in 2021.

The Clemson sensation is the clear-cut favorite to secure the No. 1 overall pick after a phenomenal college career with the Tigers. This has large sections of the Carolina Panthers‘ loyal fanbase making no secret of their desire to see Lawrence on their roster next spring, although this seems like a distant possibility give their eye-catching start to the season from a performance perspective.

One team that cannot say the same is the New York Jets. They are nothing short of an abomination thanks to a distinct lack of talent and a head coach in Adam Gase who is clearly out of his depth.

The Jets are a mess, of that there is little doubt. But would this be enough to make Lawrence think twice about taking his chances at the next level?

If you think it’s not a possibility, there is a prime example of it happening before.

Carolina Panthers: Trevor Lawrence could follow in Peyton Manning’s footsteps

Peyton Manning was the consensus No. 1 pick when he was due to come out of Tennessee when the Jets looked primed to take him. Such was the state of the organization then, the signal-caller gambled on one more college season that eventually saw the Indianapolis Colts earn the first refusal on what turned out to be a generational talent.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Whether Lawrence decides to go down a similar route is up for debate. He is risking some significant financial gain by playing his senior year for the Tigers and the player would be one serious injury from throwing away millions.

That being said, if the Jets did end up with the first pick, it would be an option for Lawrence to consider, at the very least. This is a franchise that has languished in abject failure for what seems like decades and if their start to 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that things are not likely to get better anytime soon.

Whether Lawrence would be willing to go to somewhere so disjointed as the Jets and try and turn things around, only time will tell. One only has to look at how they’ve handled a promising young quarterback in Sam Darnold to see the pitfalls of him ending up at MetLife Stadium, which is a distinct possibility despite there being just four weeks gone of the NFL season.

The Panthers or someone else would need to go on a substantial slump to get anywhere close to the misery currently being endured by the Jets’ fanbase. Lawrence would be their beacon of hope, but it might be the smarter move to see out his college career and hope someone else gets the No. 1 overall pick in 2022.

Lawrence has been NFL ready for two years now. Waiting might not be an option for him, but if the Jets carry on the way they are it might make him think differently about hitting the big time.