Less than two weeks ago, Trevor Lawrence admitted he'd like to have his contract extension done before the start of training camp. His wish has been fulfilled.
Lawrence has agreed to a five-year, $275 million extension with the Jaguars, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday, per sources, including $200 million in guaranteed money and $142 million fully guaranteed at signing.
"I am beyond grateful to be able to continue my career in Jacksonville," Lawrence said in a team statement on Friday. "My family and I love this city - it has become home to us and this solidifies that even more. We can't thank Mr. Khan, and everyone involved for their belief in me. I know that the best is yet to come and this is only the beginning. The drive to bring a championship to Duval is bigger than ever. Let's get it done."
Lawrence's contract will pay him $55 million per year, matching Joe Burrow's league-leading contract in total value and average annual salary.
Unlike Burrow, Lawrence's outlook isn't quite as trustworthy, at least from a football perspective.
Lawrence's journey to this point hasn't been as smooth as most hoped when Jacksonville spent the No. 1 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft on him. His entire rookie season was essentially derailed by the dysfunction created by his first coach, Urban Meyer, whom the Jaguars fired after 13 games.
Doug Pederson helped Lawrence get back on track in 2022, and a second-half sprint -- including seven wins in the Jaguars' final nine games -- led to a 9-8 finish that earned Jacksonville a trip to the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 season. Lawrence became the face of the franchise during this run, completing 69.7% of his passes for 2,273 yards and a 15-2 TD-INT ratio, seemingly completing his coming-out party with a frantic comeback win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Super Wild Card Weekend.
The potential that followed Lawrence from Clemson to the NFL was finally being realized.
But 2023 wasn't the same story. Jacksonville consistently lost on the margins, and Lawrence's numbers suffered accordingly, finishing with fewer touchdowns, a lower passer rating and more interceptions in 2023 than he did in 2022. Instead of sprinting to the playoffs, the Jaguars collapsed down the backstretch of the campaign, leaving the door open for the new darling of the AFC South -- Houston's C.J. Stroud -- to steal their playoff spot.
The timing wasn't great, but Jacksonville also didn't need to get this deal done immediately. If the Jaguars truly lacked confidence in Lawrence, they could have let him play out 2024 with the protection of a fifth-year option for 2025.
Instead, they're locking him up now with a contract that might raise a few eyebrows when comparing Lawrence's résumé to Burrow's. Burrow's list of accomplishments includes an AFC Championship Game victory and Super Bowl appearance, but both have their red flags, too. Burrow has missed 15 games over his career, while Lawrence didn't miss a single start until the 2023 season.
Cincinnati didn't think twice about opening its bank vault for Burrow. Jacksonville has acted similarly, handing Lawrence an extension that proves its commitment to him ahead of a 2024 season that could suddenly become pivotal for the franchise's future, at least as it pertains to the coaching staff.
One fact is certain: Lawrence isn't going anywhere. With his deal now done, all that is left is to prepare for a bounce-back campaign.
