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Many Jets fans were dismayed by their team’s 2020 Week 16 win over Cleveland, because it cost them Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence.
Because of this win, since both teams lost in Week 17, this gave the Jacksonville Jaguars the #1 pick, and they went with Lawrence.
The Jets had to settle for Zach Wilson at #2. The Jets’ selection of Wilson didn’t work out, and he’s no longer with the team, traded to Denver for a sixth-round pick this off-season.
But if there is a silver lining to the Jets getting Wilson at 2, instead of Lawrence, at 1, it’s that the Jets didn’t have to pay Lawrence ridiculous money this off-season for mediocrity.
On June 14, Lawrence agreed to a five-year, $275 million deal with $200 million in guaranteed money, making him the NFL’s highest-paid player for now.
Based on Lawrence’s three-year NFL resume, that contract is somewhat absurd.
Lawrence has a 20-30 record as an NFL starter.
What is that old saying from Bill Parcells: “You are what your record says it is.”
And he turns the ball over too much with 39 picks and 33 fumbles during his three years playing for Jacksonville.
Man, are the Jets lucky they didn’t have to do something like that, which will have huge cap ramifications soon.
Is Lawrence better than Wilson?
No doubt.
But that doesn’t mean he’s great. So far, “middle-of-the-pack” might be the best description of Lawrence.
But nonetheless, making him the highest-paid player in football, for now, based on his resume, makes little sense, in a world of common sense, which is in short supply right now.
Why do teams feel they need to pay their first-round quarterbacks after three seasons?
The player is locked up for a fourth year based on his rookie deal, and the team can also pick up the fifth-year option.
So the player is under team control for five years, and then you can always slap the franchise tag on the player, to control him for a sixth year.
Not saying you have to wait six years to give the QB his monster second contract, but teams used to wait longer.
An example was former NFL QB Andrew Luck, who got his second contract with the Indianapolis Colts after four years and was the first pick overall.
Even Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson didn’t get his second deal after three years.
Why are teams doing this? Public pressure? PR?
Let’s say Mac Jones was a little better during his three years in New England. Let’s say his numbers were like Lawrence, who he is now backing up in Jacksonville. Do you think if Bill Belichick was still in charge in New England, he would have given Jones $55 million a year after three years? No freakin way.
So, to me, even though Wilson not working out wasn’t ideal for the Jets, they might not have been much better with Lawrence, and there would have been pressure to pay him this off-season.
Like Lawrence, Tua Tagovailoa in Miami is close to getting paid after three years.
So this is the trend now.
Albeit, a crazy one, but it’s a copycat league.
And most teams don’t have the iron fist to say, “No, you have to wait until after your fourth year,” regardless of pressure from the player, agent and media to do a deal after three years.
So weirdly, while Wilson didn’t work out for the Jets, not getting Lawrence, and having to pay him $55 million a year for mediocrity, throwing a monkey wrench into your cap in the coming years, is probably a good thing for Gang Green.
June 24, 2024
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