Trevor Lawrence’s struggles with Jaguars are proof that Caleb Williams’ NFL success isn’t a guarantee with Bears

Trevor Lawrence was meant to be the next great NFL quarterback.

Four years later, the Jacksonville Jaguars are behind the Houston Texans in the AFC South, and Lawrence is 20-30 as a starter with only one playoff victory.
Caleb Williams is expected to be the NFL’s next great quarterback by 2024, with comparisons to Patrick Mahomes already being made.

There is still time for Lawrence, the first overall pick in 2021, to live up to his once-in-a-generation collegiate fanfare, which had some NFL fans waiting years for the former Clemson standout to join the draft.

However, ESPN draft expert Matt Miller believes Lawrence’s early up-and-down tenure in Jacksonville serves as a stark reminder that “situation” is essential to the growth of a rookie quarterback.

 

Lawrence’s problems also demonstrate that nothing is assured in the NFL, and even the top college prospects can face unforeseen challenges.
“Situation matters,” Miller told talkSPORT exclusively. “You are drafted, Urban Meyer is your first head coach, and he’s dismissed about nine weeks later. “The situation is extremely important.”
The Super Bowl victories of Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes have set excessive expectations for some NFL teams, general managers, coaches, and fans.

That has also influenced Lawrence’s present outlook, as he has been decent in the NFL but not great while dealing with inconsistency, injuries, coaching and staff changes.

“We’re talking about Trevor Lawrence, who has been in the NFL for four years, and it’s like, ‘Well, he hasn’t lived up to his expectations,'” Miller said in an interview. “The Jags were in the playoffs two years ago and had a nice playoff run.”
Lawrence was more hyped than Williams in college.

The current Jaguars quarterback was nearly untouchable at Clemson, with a 38-2 record.

Lawrence’s first 29 games in college were won by the Tigers, who also won the national championship.

His lone losses came in the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship to LSU and the 2021 CFP Semifinals to Ohio State.

Williams earned his college name in Oklahoma’s biggest rivalry versus Texas, coming off the bench to complete 16-of-25 passes for 212 yards and two scores in the Sooners’ instant classic 55-48 win.
When Sooners coach Lincoln Riley left to become a Trojan, Williams followed him to USC and became the biggest star in collegiate football for the 2022 season.

Williams completed 66.6 percent of his throws for 4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns, and only five interceptions, winning the Heisman Trophy and ensuring a No. 1 pick if he entered the draft.

In 2023, he struggled in some categories and only hit on 30 touchdown passes.
However, Williams achieved personal bests in completion percentage (68.6), yards per attempt (9.4), and passer rating (170.1).

The Bears are so confident in their projected No. 1 pick that they traded away former quarterback Justin Fields, who was taken in the first round in 2021, ten picks after Lawrence.

“Chicago has done a great job of building a framework around him (Williams), which is incredibly important,” Miller said in a statement. “I believe he has a 90 percent chance of becoming a Pro Bowl quarterback and leading Chicago to a sustained run as a contender.” But I wouldn’t want to say, ‘Hey, here’s the next Patrick Mahomes waiting for the Bears to draft him,’ because there are too many risk factors.”

Lawrence at Clemson could not have guessed Meyer would take over the Jaguars, only to leave abruptly following a horrible 2-11 season.

The Jaguars can still get the most out of Lawrence, who has completed 63.8 percent of his passes for 11,770 yards, 39 touchdowns, and an 85 rating while also throwing 39 interceptions.

The Bears can glean many crucial things from Lawrence’s success in Jacksonville, as well as what has clearly hampered the 2021 No. 1 pick’s NFL growth.
“Every player there’s a chance that it won’t work – every player,” Miller told reporters. “I’ve been doing this for a long time, and we’ve seen guys like Trevor Lawrence who can’t be missed.” Andrew Luck’s career was cut short due to injuries.

“There’s always that risk, which is why the draft is so exciting, because it can appear to be a lock — this player will change the team for the better.” “But you never really know.”