Another quarterback gets a mega deal. The Jacksonville Jaguars reached a new deal with Trevor Lawrence, who was entering the fourth year of his rookie contract (with a fifth-year option already accepted).
However, the former Clemson quarterback expressed his wishes for an extension before training camp began.
Now, Lawrence is a lot richer. A five-year, $275 million extension keeps him with the Jaguars through the 2030 season. With that said, the signal-caller can focus on bringing the team back to the top of the AFC South.
Was This Really Necessary?
Not really. As mentioned, the Jaguars already have Lawrence under control for two more seasons. They already exercised the fifth-year option on him for 2025.
Besides, the quarterback hasn’t necessarily lived up to the standards of a number-one overall pick. His rookie season (under former head coach Urban Meyer) was a disappointment. He went 3-13 as a starter and threw 12 touchdowns compared to 17 interceptions. He had a QBR of 39.1, which was among the worst in the league.
Then, once the Jaguars hired Doug Pederson to replace Meyer in 2022, he finally broke out. Lawrence threw for over 4,100 yards, 25 touchdowns, and eight interceptions to lead Jacksonville to an AFC South title with a 9-8 record.
However, he struggled in the postseason. Though he helped the team get to the divisional round, his individual statistics were far from great. Lawrence threw for 505 yards and five touchdowns but also had five interceptions (four of them in the wild-card game against the Chargers).
2023 saw an “average” year from Lawrence, as he went 8-8 as a starter while throwing for 4,016 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.
The common theme from the numbers above: they’re all just “average”. Whether it’s the team’s record under his leadership, his individual statistics, or his play on the field, the quarterback has never consistently been the superstar talent many expected him to be.
At the end of the day, watching another year of his play this upcoming season would have been best before giving him an extension. Aside from that playoff run, Trevor Lawrence has been just “a guy”.
A Major Note In The Extension
Now, if Lawrence does not become the consistent superstar quarterback that the Jaguars expect (and are paying a bunch of money for), they can get out of the deal without consequence.
Not right away, of course. But, the Jaguars can release him in 2028 without facing any consequences of the dead cap.
Of course, the Jaguars hope he is the franchise guy for the rest of his career. This extension shows the team has confidence in him, and are banking on the fact that he will continue to grow in Doug Pederson’s offense.
Also, let’s face the facts. Jacksonville was 8-3 at one point. But, injuries started to mount on Lawrence and affect his play (and the team’s performance) down the stretch.
The Jaguars won a total of 12 games in the three years prior to Lawrence’s arrival. It’s clear he’s the best quarterback the team’s ever had in years.
Now, the man must focus on bringing the Jaguars their first-ever Super Bowl. With the weapons around him (Travis Etienne, Evan Engram, Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, and rookie WR Brian Thomas Jr.), there are no excuses. He has his money. It’s time to show the team he was worth the investment.
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Featured Image: David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
