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Keyshawn Johnson not impressed by Trevor Lawrence hype: ‘Give me some damn wins’
By Jake Rill
Published:
Trevor Lawrence has shown improvement through his first 6 NFL games. The Jacksonville Jaguars may be 1-5, but their rookie quarterback is providing some optimism for the future.
It shouldn’t be a surprise. Lawrence was taken with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft for a reason. And although the former Clemson QB is talented, it doesn’t change the fact that the Jags’ roster still has plenty of holes that they need to correct before becoming a contender.
However, Keyshawn Johnson isn’t impressed. The former NFL wide receiver and current ESPN analyst shared his thoughts on why he thinks there’s been too much hype surrounding Lawrence to this point.
“I don’t mind where Trevor Lawrence is right now as a rookie,” Johnson said on “NFL Live” on Thursday. “He is certainly growing and getting better each week. But this whole putting him in ‘once-and-a-lifetime generational quarterback’ … give me some damn wins. That’s all I care about. Because those types of guys, they win football games. So you talk about Ja’Marr Chase as a wide receiver, as the fifth pick, he’s helping his team win games. You can tell me all about, ‘He’s learning, he’s climbing the pocket, he’s looking great, he’s sliding.’ He’s doing all those things. Help me win games.”
Johnson’s comments sparked a heated debate with fellow ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky. Johnson went as far as to say that New England Patriots rookie quarterback Mac Jones could have gone No. 1 overall. Orlovsky doesn’t think that’s true and that the talent gap is too large between Lawrence and Jones.
But Johnson didn’t let up with his take about Lawrence.
“I want quarterbacks that’s going to help my team win, not hype,” Johnson said.
"I want quarterbacks that's going to help my team win, not hype."@keyshawn is not 100% sold on Trevor Lawrence just yet ? pic.twitter.com/jrgMk3IdxN
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 20, 2021
Lawrence and the Jaguars have a bye in Week 7 and will return to action with a road matchup against the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 31.
Jake Rill contributes to news coverage for Saturday Down South. He has covered the SEC since 2016.
