2021 NFL Draft: Front-runners in the Tank for Trevor Lawrence campaign

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 28: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers looks to the sideline during the first half of their game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 28: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers looks to the sideline during the first half of their game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
1 of 4
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 13: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers before taking on the LSU Tigers during the College Football Playoff National Championship held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Tank for Trevor is already happening ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 13: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers before taking on the LSU Tigers during the College Football Playoff National Championship held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Tank for Trevor is already happening ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)

The Tank for Trevor Lawrence campaign in the 2021 NFL Draft has begun

The 2020 NFL Draft has just ended, but that has not stopped NFL teams from peaking ahead to next year already. In next year’s 2021 NFL Draft class has a player who has the chance to be the best quarterback prospect in nearly a decade, since Andrew Luck, in Clemson gunslinger Trevor Lawrence.

In recent history, we have seen two NFL teams stockpile picks, and tank just for the sake of improving their draft stock in order to land a franchise quarterback. To think teams are not already doing so for such a prize as Lawrence would be to choose ignorance over reality at this point.

Starting in 2016, the Cleveland Browns overhauled their roster, trading veterans for picks, and signing journeyman players to fill their roster. This helped them not only land Myles Garrett in the 2017 NFL Draft, but then to land Baker Mayfield with the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft as well.

Just last year, the Miami Dolphins acquired three first round picks by trading off the likes of offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. While in hindsight they really only needed their original pick to land a new face of the franchise in Tua Tagovailoa, their strategy was evident nonetheless.

What teams could be leading the race at this point in the “Tank for Trevor” campaign before the 2020 season even begins?