The Jacksonville Jaguars have been aggressive in the offseason. This is understandable when you take into account that they had several holes and not much talent across the roster last year. One of the few positions they didn't have to touch much was quarterback due to the presence of Trevor Lawrence. In fact, he should reap the benefits of the changes the front office has made.
Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus had one observation for each NFL team following the NFL Draft and said that Jacksonville's bold approach to the offseason will benefit Trevor Lawrence the most.
"Jacksonville made the first major splash of the draft by trading up to the No. 2 overall pick to select Colorado’s two-way phenom, Travis Hunter. While his long-term role may include snaps on both sides of the ball, the Jaguars appear committed to unleashing him first as a wide receiver, pairing him with Brian Thomas Jr. to form a dynamic receiving tandem.
Hunter earned an 89.0 receiving grade last season, seventh-best in the FBS, showcasing elite route running, ball skills and versatility. With these two explosive weapons now in the fold, Trevor Lawrence is poised for a breakout season as the Jaguars revamp their passing attack."
There's no doubt that the addition of Travis Hunter will be huge on both offense and defense. Heck, general manager James Gladstone called him a sport-altering talent, and understandably so. The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner will give Lawrence's arsenal of weapons a much-needed boost. Similarly, he'll round out the team's cornerback group. That said, he's far from the only player who will help right the ship next season.
As Wasserman noted, it's easy to forget with the arrival of Hunter that Brian Thomas Jr. will be WR1. The former LSU Tiger reeled in 82 receptions for 1,282 yards with 10 touchdowns last season despite the fact that opposing teams often zeroed in on him. Hunter and free-agent acquisition will change that, and they'll draw coverage away from Thomas.
But aside from an improved arsenal of weapons, Lawrence will also throw behind a beefed-up offensive line. The Jags signed Patrick Mekari and Robert Hainsey in free agency to start at right guard and center, respectively. They also added a couple of depth pieces in Fred Johnson and Chuma Edoga. That was just the beginning, though.
Jacksonville then drafted Wyatt Milum and Jonah Monhaim in Rounds 3 and 7, respectively. The former could challenge Ezra Cleveland for the starting job at left guard, and the latter could be the main backup at center. This is arguably the offensive line No. 16 has had in his NFL career.
The bold moves the Jaguars made will elevate Trevor Lawrence
Coming out of college, Trevor Lawrence was dubbed a generational talent. So far, he's failed to live up to the moniker for a myriad of reasons. The Jacksonville Jaguars certainly deserve plenty of the blame. Whether they brougth in inadequate head coaches or not surround him with enough talent, they haven't put the former Clemson Tiger in a position to succeed. The new regime is doing its best to buck the trend.
Apart from the additions the Jags made to the roster, they brought in a head coach who should be able to get the most out of Lawrence. Under Liam Coen's tutelage, Baker Mayfield posted career numbers in 2024.
With Coen at the helm, Lawrence should be able to hone his footwork and decision-making, a couple of areas where he struggled last year. All things considered, it's great to see the organization build around its franchise quarterback, something the previous regime failed to do.
With all the changes Jacksonville made in the offseason, it wouldn't be shocking to see Lawrence have the breakout season Dalton Wasserman suggests. Heck, the Jaguars could be a dark-horse contender if he hits his stride like he did in 2022.
And that's the thing, Trevor Lawrnece has already shown that he can play at an elite level. And when he does, good things happen.
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