The Jacksonville Jaguars and superstar quarterback Trevor Lawrence have reached an agreement on a lucrative five-year, $275 million contract extension. This deal, which includes $200 million guaranteed with $142 million at signing, solidifies Lawrence’s future with the Jaguars. The $55 million average salary in Lawrence’s contract now ties him with Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals for the top spot in the NFL in terms of annual earnings. This extension makes Lawrence the sixth quarterback in the league to have a yearly salary exceeding $50 million.
Joining the ranks of top-earning quarterbacks in the league, Lawrence finds himself among names like Jared Goff, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, and Jalen Hurts, all of whom boast average annual salaries above $50 million. Patrick Mahomes, the recent Super Bowl champion, follows Lawrence closely with an annual salary of $46.339 million. Furthermore, Lawrence is now one of nine quarterbacks in the league with $100 million or more fully guaranteed in their contracts, placing him in the elite company with the likes of Deshaun Watson, Kyler Murray, and Josh Allen.
On-field Performance
Despite his success off the field with this massive contract extension, Lawrence has faced his fair share of challenges on the field. As the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Lawrence struggled in his rookie season under head coach Urban Meyer, ending the year with a league-high 17 interceptions. However, Lawrence showed significant improvement under head coach Doug Pederson in his second season, throwing for over 4,000 yards and leading the Jaguars to a division title.
Although Lawrence demonstrated flashes of brilliance in leading the Jaguars to success, he also faced setbacks due to injuries and turnovers. Throughout his young career, Lawrence has totaled 60 turnovers, including a league-high 21 in the 2023 season alone. Despite his accomplishments, Lawrence must work on protecting the football and staying healthy to reach his full potential as a franchise quarterback.
Looking at Lawrence’s early career performance, he joins a select group of quarterbacks who have faced turnover issues in their first three seasons since 1978. The list includes Hall of Famers like Warren Moon, Peyton Manning, and John Elway, showcasing the elite company Lawrence finds himself in both on and off the field. As Lawrence continues to grow and develop as a player, he must learn from his mistakes and build on his successes to solidify his place among the NFL’s top quarterbacks.
Overall, while Lawrence’s contract extension reflects the Jaguars’ confidence in his abilities and potential, he must continue to work hard and improve to live up to the lofty expectations set by this record-breaking deal. Lawrence has the talent and work ethic to succeed at the highest level, but consistency and on-field performance will be key in determining his long-term success in the NFL.