For Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the upcoming 2025 NFL season could be considered a time for retribution. The 25-year-old passer entered the league as the first overall pick in the 2021 Draft. At the time, he may have been the most highly-touted QB since Andrew Luck, who was a surefire star a decade earlier. However, he's failed to live up to expectations.
Right from the start, Lawrence showed flashes of brilliance. He made history by leading the Jags to a 31-30 comeback victory in the 2022 playoffs over the Los Angeles Chargers. The victory, after previously trailing 27-0, is the third-largest comeback in NFL playoff history. But there have been darker times as well, with the team regressing rather than growing the past two years.
The 2024 season, in particular, was rough for Lawrence. He had the worst year as a pro not only in terms of passing yards, but touchdown passes (11) and rushing (119 yards) as well. He was inconsistent and banged up, playing only 10 games.
As he enters his fifth NFL season, there are a few question marks surrounding the six-foot-six gunslinger. Lawrence will be coming off a shoulder injury and taking the reins of a team that finished 8-8 a year ago. Still, there are plenty of reasons to believe this Jags team has enough talent to return to the NFL postseason. But that will start with the starting QB, and he's got a lot to prove.
With that in mind, here are three reasons Lawrence must deliver.
The Jaguars have invested heavily in Trevor Lawrence
Trevor Lawrence is locked down with the Jaguars through the 2030 season. The former Clemson Tiger signed a five-year, $275 million contract extension with the team, which includes a full no-trade clause. From a football aspect, that means he either has to prove he's the franchise quarterback that he was originally projected to be. In fiscal terms? He will have to demonstrate that he can deliver a significant return on the team's investment in him.
While he's not the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL, he's certainly among the upper tier. In order to justify that decision by the franchise, Lawrence must prove that he deserves to be mentioned with the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen. So, it will not only be just about winning, but also racking up the same kind of numbers and providing similar heroics.
It's a chance for Trevor Lawrence to silence his critics
While there are very few fans and critics who are ready to give up on the Jags quarterback, he's certainly got his share of doubters. After posting back-to-back 4,000-yard passing seasons in 2022 and 2023, he only played in 10 games last season. And when he was on the field, he was inconsistent for stretches of the 2024 season.
Trevor Lawrence Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) looks to pass during the second mandatory minicamp at Miller Electric Center Wednesday, June 11, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. | Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
In pre-season rankings of NFL quarterbacks, it's clear that Lawrence has fallen out of favor with many in the media and the fans, in general. He's even ranked outside of the top ten on some critics' lists. That should add fuel to the fire, as the once highly-touted star wants to avoid the dreaded 'bust' label.
He has a potentially great weapon in Travis Hunter
While first-round pick Travis Hunter still hasn't taken a snap in the NFL, many believe he has the chance to be a unique, breakout star in the NFL. He's a multi-talented threat and a Swiss Army Knife on offense. He's capable of scoring from nearly every skill position imaginable. He's a once-in-a-lifetime athlete who is so versatile that he will likely line up for some snaps on defense as well, making him a dual threat.
Jaguars Travis Hunter
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) walks on the field during the second mandatory minicamp at Miller Electric Center Wednesday, June 11, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. | Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
A lot is on the line in terms of Hunter's development, especially after the Jags inked him to a four-year rookie contract worth more than $46 million. When you factor in that $30 million of that deal is guaranteed, it's clear that the front office sees the dynamic rookie as a franchise player.
How Hunter develops will have a lot to do with Trevor Lawrence's success in the upcoming season. While it may be strange to call such a young player a 'veteran guy', Lawrence has been in the driver's seat of the offense since he was a rookie. If he can act as a mentor to Hunter, the two could blossom together in 2025.
While it seems that everyone in the media is beating the Trevor Lawrence angle to death, the quarterback himself has taken it all in stride. Still, he has a lot of NFL experts convinced that this is a make-or-break year for the signal caller. Many expect him to rise to the occasion.
"It's finally his time to take the leap to become a superstar in the NFL," podcast host Chris Brockman said recently, while hosting The Rich Eisen Show, "Trevor Lawrence, I'm not saying it's last chance, but we're getting close to being out of excuses and chances for Trevor."
Brockman continued, "It's really an opportunity now for Trevor Lawrence to take that leap that we all thought was coming when he was the first overall pick. We've been waiting, and waiting, and waiting for Trevor to have his moment. I think this is the year that he could finally do it."
Like Brockman, many observers think this upcoming season will be boom or bust for Lawrence. It will be up to him to prove them wrong.
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