Being the most-hyped NFL draft prospect in years comes with immense pressure, but Trevor Lawrence said he's able to maintain a level-headed approach in everything that he does. 

In an interview with Sports Illustrated's Michael Rosenberg, Lawrence explained that he doesn't play football with an edge: 

“It’s hard to explain that because I want people to know that I’m passionate about what I do and it’s really important to me, but ... I don’t have this huge chip on my shoulder, that everyone’s out to get me and I’m trying to prove everybody wrong. I just don’t have that. I can’t manufacture that. I don’t want to."

One common trait among athletes is they sometimes carry a chip on their shoulder over some slight from their past that drives them to be better in the future. 

Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Aaron Rodgers are some of the notable examples of superstars who famously used an unnatural desire to prove themselves as a motivating factor throughout their careers. 

It's hard to argue with the results that trio produced throughout their careers. Jordan and Bryant combined to win 11 championships, eight NBA Finals MVP awards and six regular-season MVP awards as players. 

Rodgers is one of six players in NFL history to win three MVP awards. He also won a Super Bowl title with the Green Bay Packers in 2010 after falling to the 24th pick in the 2005 NFL draft. 

In terms of talent and performance, Lawrence has little reason to play with an edge. He was ranked as the best recruit in the nation coming out of high school three years ago, won a national title as a true freshman starting quarterback and went 37-2 in three seasons at Clemson. 

Lawrence is the presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL draft. The 21-year-old has been considered a generational talent by scouts as he prepares to begin his professional career. 

Even though that kind of hype comes with a lot of pressure, Lawrence certainly seems to have the mindset that will allow him to withstand any potential criticism that comes his way.