![Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) runs onto the field before the start of an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. Bills lead 10-7 at the half over the Jaguars. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_176,w_1820,h_1023/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/293/01khz5sgykezz1ermfr5.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) runs onto the field before the start of an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. Bills lead 10-7 at the half over the Jaguars. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]")
The tag “Generational” is finally affixed.
After five years in the ring, trying to avoid running into coaching carousels that have not been made accessible, he hasn’t just made it into the season — Trevor Lawrence has succeeded. In the newly released projections for 2026’s Top 100 NFL players by Sports Illustrated, Clemson signal-caller Trevor Lawrence rocketed to No. 44, establishing a path into the league’s top-tier quarterbacks.
Lawrence is following a 2025 campaign that quieted the doubters. With the guidance of first-year Jaguars head coach Liam Coen, Lawrence scored 38 overall touchdowns — second only to Matthew Stafford and Josh Allen for the league lead.
The turning point for the 2021 No. 1 overall pick was the breakout eight-game winning streak to seal the 2025 season. Lawrence secured the AFC South title and was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for December, recording a stat line that appeared to resemble a video game: 13 touchdowns to only one interception over the final five frames.
“Something special is happening right off with Lawrence and Liam Coen,” had SI’s Gilberto Manzano wrote with Coen. “Coen played a role in unlocking the extensive skill sets of the 2021 No. 1 pick.”
While Trevor is trending up, the other Lawrence in the Top 100 is seeking a “get-right” year. New York Giants defensive anchor Dexter Lawrence was left at No. 70 following a statistically quiet 2025.
To his All-Pro standard, 0.5 sacks and 31 tackles were a recording low. But the 340-pound “Sexy Dexy” is still the league’s most feared interior disruptor — a reality not lost on SI’s analysts, who believe it will see a huge upswing in 2026.
The reason for the optimism? John Harbaugh’s arrival, the Giants head coach.
The new head coach who once won a National Championship at Michigan and also helped breathe new life into the Los Angeles Chargers, Harbaugh’s defensive philosophy is expected to free up Lawrence on a level the previous administration couldn’t quite do. Despite the “down” season Lawrence begins his eighth with 341 career tackles and 30.5 sacks and remains the hub of the Giants’ rebuild.
The mention of both Lawrences in the top 70 showcases the long-standing talent pipeline from the Dabo Swinney era. As Trevor steps into his prime in Jacksonville and Dexter readies himself for a schematic overhaul in East Rutherford, the NFL’s “Clemson North and Clemson South” names persist today.