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Michael DiRocco, ESPN editor
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has become one of the highest-paid players in NFL history. He agreed to a five-year, $275 million contract extension Thursday, including $200 million in guarantees, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The contract ties Joe Burrow as the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL in terms of annual salary.
It’s the largest contract in franchise history, surpassing the five-year, $141.25 million contract ($88 million guaranteed) signed by outside linebacker Josh Allen in April.
The 2021 No. 1 overall pick is just the third quarterback the Jaguars have drafted to earn an extension, joining David Garrard (seven years, $69.4 million) in 2007 and Blake Bortles (three years, $54 million) in 2018. Only Lawrence and Bortles (No. 3 in 2014) were first-round picks.
After three seasons in the NFL, has Lawrence landed this contract? And once the contract is up, will he take the next step as an elite quarterback? We sort out the biggest questions.
Did Lawrence win this contract?
If you look at what Lawrence has done in his career so far – 20-30 record as a starter (plus 1-1 in the playoffs), 63.8% completions, 58 touchdown passes, 39 interceptions – you might wonder why the Jaguars made him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks.
But the Jaguars aren’t paying him in full for what he’s done so far. They’re paying him because they believe he’s going to play at a level that will consistently put them in contention for a Super Bowl, especially as he grows in coach Doug Pederson’s offense.
Lawrence has shown flashes of elite quarterback play over the past three seasons.
His rookie season was less than ideal, as he struggled with Urban Meyer as head coach for less than a full season. Lawrence’s 17 NFL interceptions and 3-13 record as a starter that year were understood as a microcosm of a larger team problem.
Lawrence then bounced back in a big way in 2022 with 25 touchdown passes and eight interceptions, leading the Jaguars to an AFC South title. In the playoffs, he produced one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history as the Jaguars went from a 27-0 deficit (created in part by his four interceptions) to a 31-30 victory against the Los Angeles Chargers before losing to Kansas City. in the divisional round.
And last season, he took a step back. The Jaguars were 8-3 in 2023 and competing for the AFC’s No. 1 seed before Lawrence suffered multiple injuries in the final six weeks of the season: a sprained right ankle , a concussion and a shoulder sprain. The Jaguars went 1-5 during that stretch (he missed one game) and Lawrence did not fully participate in a practice after December 15. He also finished third in the NFL in turnovers last season (21) and has 60 in his first three seasons.
But there is a period between the 2022 and 2023 seasons that shows the potential the Jaguars see in Lawrence.
Over a 17-game span from Week 12 of 2022 to Week 11 of 2023, he threw for 4,161 yards and 23 touchdowns with eight interceptions. He ranked ninth in QBR, seventh in completion percentage, ninth in passing yards and 12th in TD passes among all QBs during that span. Only one QB has more wins during that span than Lawrence (13): Jalen Hurts (14). Patrick Mahomes and Jared Goff have also won 13 games during this stretch.
Despite the ups and downs of his first three seasons, Lawrence led the Jaguars to 20 wins, including 17 over the last two seasons. That may not sound impressive, but the Jaguars had won just 12 games in the three seasons before his arrival and had started six QBs in those 48 games: Bortles (3-9), Cody Kessler (2-2 ), Nick Foles (0-4), Gardner Minshew (7-13), Mike Glennon (0-5) and Jake Luton (0-3).
This will be Lawrence’s third season in Pederson’s offense. Lawrence’s growth in the system and as a leader are signs that the 24-year-old could be headed for a breakout season.
“He becomes the vocal leader in the locker room, on the field and in meetings,” Pederson said. “He’s engaging. When we got him three years ago, he was just learning our system and was pretty calm and just trying to go through the motions a little bit just trying to adjust to us and get a feel for it. of us Now he is engaging and giving us ideas. Now he is giving us suggestions and ideas and really becoming another coach, a look on the field.
The fact that Lawrence didn’t have a breakout season — for a variety of reasons — in 2023 doesn’t mean he’s behind in his development, Pederson said.
“I learned this when I went to Green Bay as a player under Mike Holmgren: It takes three to four years,” Pederson said. “It takes time to become the quarterback that you want to become or that you want for your team. And it’s just not an overnight deal. It’s not a plug-and-play deal. Some teams, some guys are going to be successful, but it’s just understanding the game, learning the game and studying the game.
“That’s the encouraging part as an offensive team and just myself going into that third year (with Lawrence). It’s kind of that jump year that he can have moving forward. “
What should Lawrence do now that he’s been paid?
Pederson said his two main priorities for Lawrence heading into his fourth season — regardless of how much money Lawrence makes — are reducing turnovers and getting better at situational football.
There are only 11 debuting quarterbacks since 1978 who have turned the ball over more than Lawrence (60) in their first three seasons, according to Elias Sports Bureau. There are three Hall of Famers on the list – Warren Moon (73, tied with Steve DeBerg for the most), Peyton Manning (64) and John Elway (61) – but Vinny Testaverde (72), Jake Plummer (72) also (70) and Mark Sánchez (63).
“That’s the biggest thing he needs to focus on moving forward,” Pederson said in his season-ending news conference. “We just can’t have that many turnovers. How we hand the ball, where we hand it, doesn’t matter. We have to protect the football. That’s the No. 1 priority .
“For the quarterback, the person touching the ball every moment, we have to make sure the focus is on the ball.”
Examples of situational football include making the safest or easiest throw on third down; slide or go down to avoid injury; throw the ball away if no one is open; and understanding that the offense is within field goal range and not jeopardizing the three-point opportunity with poor ball security or attempting an ill-advised throw.
All of that, Pederson said, will be helped by a better understanding of the offense now that Lawrence is in his third season in the system, as well as a bigger role in tailoring the system to his strengths.
“Continuing to understand our offense and get better with the plan (that’s the next step for Lawrence),” Pederson said during the scouting meeting. “Really, his voice has even more of an impact on our offense. He’s the one who executes and calls the plays, so I want him to speak up and really take ownership of that with us.
“The situational part of football as well, just understanding game situations, managing the game in a certain way at certain times throughout the game. These are all areas where we can continue as a team. team to help him and help him get to where he wants to be.”
Is the Jaguars offense poised for long-term success?
The Jaguars’ key offensive players are all under contract for at least the next two seasons: running back Travis Etienne Jr., tight end Evan Engram and receiver Christian Kirk are signed through the 2025 season. Receiver Gabe Davis is locked in until the 2026 season. Engram and Kirk are also candidates for a restructure, which could keep them around even longer.
This group was the heart of an offense that finished top-13 in total yards, passing yards and points per game in each of the last two seasons.
Additionally, the Jaguars’ offense will be bolstered by rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., selected 23rd overall in April, and second-year wide receiver Parker Washington, who has been one of the standout players during OTAs and minicamps.
The skill positions are in good shape, and as long as the offensive line issues that have plagued the team in 2023 — injuries, poor interior play — don’t persist, there’s no reason the offense can’t not always going to be in the top 10 unit, especially if Lawrence makes the jump Pederson referenced.