Gatorade Should Have Picked Zach Wilson over Trevor Lawrence

In this year’s NFL Draft, if you think Trevor Lawrence shouldn’t be the top pick, you will be destroyed. The world has been embracing Lawrence as a future number one overall pick since he made his debut for the Clemson Tigers in 2018. He’s had one of the most decorative college football careers in the sport’s history and now Gatorade looks to profit off his popularity. The sports beverage company may have not made the right choice despite everything we know.

On paper, Trevor Lawrence checks all the boxes for a marketable athlete. He’s got a solid gold reputation, a winning record and a friendly demeanor. Advertisers love partnering up with athletes that they consider safe investments. However, Lawrence may not be as safe as we think and the best investment out there. He’ll likely be going to the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team that has never experienced any success, is located in one of the NFL’s smallest markets and is now being led by a longtime college coach. Lawrence may be an incredible talent, but with football, it takes a village. Lawrence will have to be out of this world to succeed and make the Jaguars a successful franchise.

Then there’s Zach Wilson. Wilson will probably play quarterback for the New York and be drafted behind Lawrence later this month. The Jets are not an elite franchise by any means, but they’re located in the biggest media market, their new coach was a coordinator for a recent Super Bowl team and it’s easier for a star player to be more marketable in The Big Apple despite the record. Look at Odell Beckham Jr. who was in numerous advertising campaigns regardless of the Giants’ record that year.

It seems that Gatorade and other advertisers are attached to Trevor Lawrence because he’s everything we want to see as the top pick. However, it’s important to be realistic and it shouldn’t be surprising if Zach Wilson becomes the face of this upcoming draft years from now over Lawrence. Gatorade is one of the preeminent brands in sports, but their market share is dropping thanks to rising companies like Body Armor and BioSteel. This is the time to take chances since they can afford to.