Joe Douglas took a close look at what the Jets can’t take on Friday.
The Jets general manager was in attendance when quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw 52 passes during a hastily organized training session for NFL personnel in the practice balloon at Clemson. But Douglas didn’t have the best view in the house.
Newly hired Jaguars coach Urban Meyer and Clemson coach Dabo Swinney were hip for most of the training, including standing in the midfield about 15 yards from the consensus best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck in 2013 while others sat on the sidelines.
“Yes, I saw him,” a grinning Lawrence said of Meyer on ACC Network. ‘I just gave him a quick wave. I can’t really communicate here. “
Even with the favor of the No. 2 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Jets were reduced to due diligence on Lawrence – as were most of the 17 NFL teams that sent 31 representatives, according to Sports Illustrated. The Jets sent three and the Giants sent two scouts, and both receiving teams certainly had a crush on one of Lawrence’s training partners – scheduled second- or third-round pick Cornell Powell.
Free agent receiver Caleb Scott – a 2018 Vanderbilt product that has had time with the Seahawks and Packers – also flashed a dive catch from a Lawrence deep ball.
The Jaguars are the No. 1 pick, and sources from the competition tell The Post that a primary draw to lure Meyer out of retirement was the opportunity to coach Lawrence. Meyer’s last season as a head coach at Ohio State was in 2018, when Lawrence led Clemson to the College Football Playoff title as a true freshman. Meyer praised Lawrence in his two years as a television analyst.
Lawrence is scheduled to undergo surgery on his non-throwing shoulder, so he arranged for individual training at Meyer’s suggestion rather than waiting until Clemson’s regularly scheduled Pro Day (March 11). Meyer told NFL Network he’s discussed three options with Lawrence: Wait until March 11 and risk running into rehab at training camp, skip Pro Day and have his college resume speak or …
“I said, ‘Why don’t you just go and get a ball and throw it?’ “Said Meyer.” And he said, ‘Let’s go.’ That was it. The next thing I know is we’re here on a pro day they put together. That’s a man who loves football and is confident in his abilities. “
With the NFL Combine changed significantly due to COVID-19 restrictions, all in-person pre-draft training will be held on college campuses this year. Lawrence trains with Jordan Palmer, the former NFL quarterback who guides many of the best choices each season, including Sam Darnold of the Jets. They had only been on their plan for two weeks when the training date changed.
“Just to show that I’m no different from anyone else,” said Lawrence. “I still want to do the process the right way.
“It’s not like the original plan – to train in California for two months and then come back for a show on March 11th. But life does happen sometimes. It was important for me to show that I can adapt and am still willing to come throw here and give teams a chance to see me. “
Lawrence checked all the major gauges: 6 feet-5 5/8 inches long, 213 pounds, and 10-inch hands.
“About … I think I can start tossing 6-8 weeks after surgery and looking at 4-5 months of full approval,” said Lawrence. ‘Before then I can do things. It shouldn’t be too bad. I just have to rehabilitate really hard. I am excited to fix that problem and start that path to health. “