Despite being placed in an unexpected competition for the Jaguars’ starting quarterback job, Trevor Lawrence prevailed and will start in Week 1. Urban Meyer announced Wednesday the No. 1 overall pick will start over Gardner Minshew.
Meyer has consistently praised Minshew this summer and refused to install the No. 1 overall pick as his official starter for several weeks during training camp, but the Jags had started Lawrence in both preseason games. He will take the field with Jacksonville’s first-string offense in the team’s final preseason tilt and do so against Houston next month. Meyer informed passing-game coordinator Brian Schottenheimer of his decision Wednesday morning.
The Jags lost 15 straight games last season and obtained the No. 1 pick. Mark Brunell‘s contributions notwithstanding, Lawrence is easily the highest-profile quarterback in franchise history. The 6-foot-6 rookie took over Clemson’s starting job early in his true-freshman season three years ago, supplanting incumbent Kelly Bryant, and led the Tigers to the 2018 national championship. Lawrence had been essentially penciled in as the 2021 No. 1 pick since that point, making this Jaguars quarterback competition slightly unusual.
Minshew and C.J. Beathard reside on Jacksonville’s roster, giving the team some experience behind the rookie first-stringer. Although Minshew ranked 27th in Total QBR last season, he does have a career 37-11 touchdown pass-to-interception ratio. It will be interesting to see how the Jags proceed with Minshew, who has two seasons left on his rookie contract. The former sixth-round pick came up in trade rumors earlier this year, but Meyer was quick to shoot those down.
I would’ve liked to see the meltdowns and dramatic overreactions if Minshew were named the starter.
There’s a reason Meyer will never be seen on the World Poker Tour. No one takes his bluffs seriously.
probably wolnt be. some people think he’s actually a pretty good QB.
Well duh
Come on, what did you think there was going to be another outcome.
They should have him sit first year honestly let him grow in the system instead of throwing him out there week 1 like this is your future and you need to protect it
Given the state of that o-line and the holes all around the team, I’d say that this would actually be a smart decision long term. Why waste a year of Lawrence’s health on him running for his life and getting hit just to win a handful of games? Better to begin the turn around next year with another set of quality picks added to the roster.
You can check with arty, but I’m pretty sure the fans in Jacksonville are fed up with hearing the promise “we will turn it around next year”.
Lawrence is in for a long year. Let’s hope he doesn’t end up a shell-shocked wreck like David Carr.
Beatherd would be an upgrade at QB2 for a number of teams, including the Vikings. His contract over the next two years is moderate, thanks to the Jags being stuck with the signing bonus, and unlike Minshew, his price in a trade shouldn’t be prohibitive for most of the teams in the market. I’d think they should be able to get at least a 5th round pick for him based on his work last year with the Niners, and maybe even a 4th.
Hard for an organization to justify the number one overall pick on the bench due to being outplayed!