Back in 2021, Trevor Lawrence was dubbed a generational talent and the best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck nearly a decade prior. So far, he's failed to live up to expectations. And while No. 16 has been far from perfect, the Jacksonville Jaguars didn't do enough in the past to help him put it all together. That's led to an underwhelming spot in a recent NFL power rankings.
Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports ranked all 32 quarterbacks after the draft and placed Lawrence at No. 18, pointing out that the former Clemson Tiger's production hasn't matched his immense talent. On the other hand, he thinks the pairing of Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr. could help turn things around.
"He might offer the position's biggest disparity between talent and reliable results. The physical package is there. He's just too often lacked the durability, ball control and/or team support to produce meaningful wins. Travis Hunter joining Brian Thomas Jr . out wide might change that."
As Benjamin noted, Lawrence's availability or lack thereof is somewhat of a concern, as he's missed time the past two years. Moreover, injuries have hindered his performance when he's played. Not surprisingly, the Jags made an effort to revamp the offensive line this offseason. Back in free agency, they added two starters and depth. The front office then took potential starter Wyatt Milum and grand slam Jonah Monheim in the NFL Draft.
It's fair to say that Lawrence's protection in 2025 is the best one he's had throughout his career. The same is true for his arsenal of weapons. Two-way star Travis Hunter joins a wide receiver corps that includes Brian Thomas Jr. and free-agent acquisition Dyami Brown.
And in case you were wondering, Benjamin ranked Lawrence above Drake Maye (19), J.J. McCarthy (20), and Tua Tagovailoa (21), but below veteran Geno Smith (17), sophomore Caleb Williams (16), and Bo Nix. Surprisingly, Jayden Daniels got the top spot, reigning Super Bowl champion Jalen Hurts popped up at No. 2, and Joe Burrow finished third.
The Jaguars are doing their part, Trevor Lawrence must do his
The Jacksonville Jaguars have been surprisingly proactive at making upgrades to Trevor Lawrence's supporting cast. Then again, they have no choice after failing to help him hit his stride in previous years. Of course, the past regime is to blame for that. In fact, his less-than-stellar development is one of the reasons the organization cleaned house and brought Liam Coen as the head coach and James Gladstone as the general manager.
Lawrence should see notable improvement under Coen. As the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year, the new Jaguars head coach played a role in quarterback Baker Mayfield posting career numbers in several meaningful categories. Steezy Trev should see a similar improvement.
And that's the thing, the organization is doing anything it can to put Lawrence in a position to succeed. He'll now need to make the most out of the opportunity if he wants to become the quarterback he was expected to be. Last year, his mechanics and decision-making weren't crisp. The Knoxville, Tennessee native will need to reverse that.
Ultimately, the Jaguars need to keep helping Trevor Lawrence, and he'll need to come through. They're counting on it. Otherwise, they wouldn't have made such a heavy investment in him in 2024. Simply put, it's time to deliver.
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