How do former Clemson stars Trevor Lawrence and Deshaun Watson stack up among the top signal-callers in the league, according to this national outlet?
Pro Football Focus released its quarterback rankings this week, ranking all 32 projected starters ahead of the 2024 season and separating them into seven tiers.
Lawrence checked in at No. 12 overall in PFF’s ranking and is grouped in Tier 4 — “the melting pot of starters.”
A Pro Bowler in 2022, Lawrence has completed 63.8 percent of his passes for 11,770 yards and 58 touchdowns with 39 interceptions in 50 career starts over the first three years of his NFL career since being selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the first overall pick in 2021.
Lawrence battled through multiple injuries in 2023 but only missed one game (the first missed game of his NFL career) last season, when he completed 65.6 percent of his passes for 4,016 yards and 21 touchdowns with 14 interceptions.
“Lawrence has shown us flashes, and even extended periods of brilliance, but I continue to want more consistent high-level play before vaulting him into the top 10, which he is capable of. He ranked in the top five in big-time throws (33) but also in turnover-worthy plays (24) with 21 total turnovers on the year,” PFF’s Trevor Sikkema wrote.
“His season was a story of dealing with injuries, so he wasn’t feeling his best through those struggles. On a positive note, Lawrence had by far the most big-time throws on passes of 20-plus yards downfield (30). Adding Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis will only allow that to continue.”
Watson, meanwhile, checked in at No. 23 in PFF’s ranking as part of Tier 5 — “can singlehandedly win and lose games.”
A three-time Pro Bowler, Watson is entering his third year with the Cleveland Browns in 2024 after being traded to Cleveland from the Houston Texans in March 2022 and then signing a new fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract with the Browns.
In 2023, he went 5-1 as Cleveland’s starter, completing 61.4 percent of his passes for 1,115 yards and seven touchdowns with four interceptions across six games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in a Week 10 win over the Baltimore Ravens.
Watson is expected to be ready for the start of the 2024 season. He has passed for 16,756 yards and 118 touchdowns with 45 interceptions in 66 career games with the Browns and Texans since being taken by Houston in the first round (12th overall) of the 2017 draft.
“Watson has been a disappointment since joining the Cleveland Browns. He has played in just six games in each of the past two seasons due to suspension and injury, and he is coming off season-ending surgery to his throwing shoulder. His numbers reflect all of that,” Sikkema wrote.
“Watson’s 58.7 cumulative PFF passing grade over the past two years ranks 53rd among qualifying passers. Still, his dominant days in a Texans uniform are not a figment of your imagination. Perhaps this is the year we see it again, though he is running out of time to prove it.”
Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes unsurprisingly took the top spot in PFF’s QB rankings. The Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow and Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen round out the top four.
CBS Sports also recently released QB power rankings for 2024, with Lawrence ranking No. 15, followed by Watson at No. 17.
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