Last year Joe Burrow was the first player selected in the NFL Draft after one of the most impressive seasons by a college quarterback in history. He shot up draft boards after leading LSU to a perfect 15-0 record and a national title in 2019.
This year, Trevor Lawrence will be the player who hears his name called first after an illustrious three-year career at Clemson. A career that saw him go 34-2 as a starter while leading the Tigers to three straight CFP appearances, including winning a national title in 2018 as a freshman.
Two very different careers that eventually led each to the same place atop NFL draft boards. We even saw the two do battle for a national title in 2019.
There is no question both have the makings of elite-level, franchise quarterbacks in the NFL. However, who is the better prospect? Analysts Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks broke it down on a recent episode of Path to the Draft.
Jeremiah said that while Burrow might have gotten the better of Lawrence in the 2019 national championship, it’s the former Clemson quarterback that has the higher ceiling.
“They are both phenomenal players and we saw them on the field,” Jeremiah said. “We saw Joe Burrow get the best of Trevor Lawrence but I have a higher grade on Trevor Lawrence. So, I would take Trevor Lawrence in a competition between the two of them.”
Brooks pretty much echoed Jeremiah’s sentiments, saying that Lawrence is more athletic, while Burrow might be a little more accurate. Overall, though, Brooks said it is Lawrence that brings more to the table and that only one quarterback in history has gotten a higher grade from him.
“He is a better athlete and he can make more things happen.” Brooks said. “Joe Burrow maybe has a slight edge in accuracy, but with Lawrence, there is just so much more you can do with him because of the athleticism he brings to the table. I would lean toward Lawrence in that one. In fact, he has the highest quarterback grade I have given out, going back to Andrew Luck.”
“Andrew Luck is the only quarterback I have a higher grade on.”
