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(New York, NY) – Ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft, there was a clear consensus number one pick in Trevor Lawrence. The 6-foot-6 strong-armed QB with long locks had won a national title at Clemson and was considered a “sure thing” along the lines of Andrew Luck ten years prior and John Elway as part of the famous 1983 draft class.
Yet, at least one high-ranking executive wasn’t convinced Lawrence was the clear-cut top choice.
According to ESPN reporter Rich Cimini, former Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur and assistant GM Rex Hogan both insisted Zach Wilson – the Jets’ eventual choice at number 2 overall – was actually better than Lawrence.
While each player’s rookie years were marked with struggles and flashes of upside, this past season more or less cemented that both Hogan and LaFleur were off their rockers. It was a breakout 2022 season for Lawrence, and a disaster for Wilson, as he lost his starting job. With better QB play, the Jets strong defense would have likely helped the team make the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Jaguars won the AFC South and watched Lawrence engineer a wild comeback against the Los Angeles Chargers before eventually losing to the eventual AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Cimini’s report says several people in the room with LaFleur and Hogan expressed their shock at their pro-Wilson stance by saying “what the f***?!” Which sounds a lot like what Jets fans have said to each other while watching games over the past 50+ seasons.
