The Jacksonville Jaguars didn't hesitate to give a multi-year extension to Trevor Lawrence in 2024 because they believed he was a franchise quarterback. And while their confidence in him hasn't wavered, things haven't probably played out the way they envisioned.
You will be hard-pressed to find someone who thinks Lawrence is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, and that's fine. Only two or three signal-callers can truly be considered elite. The trouble is that the former Clemson Tiger is being paid like one but isn't delivering. That's led to a local voice to make a pointed observation.
The Jaguars aren't getting enough bang for their buck with Trevor Lawrence
Following the loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Austen Lane of Action Sports Jax said that Trevor Lawrence is getting paid like one of the top passers in the NFL but isn't playing like one, noting that he needs everything around him to be just right.
"Trevor Lawrence needs everything to go right to be a successful quarterback. He needs five to six seconds in the pocket, he needs the right play call, he needs wide receivers to catch the ball, and he needs a running game to have his back," Lane said. "If he doesn't have those things, he's not going to succeed. And that's the difference between Trevor Lawrence and the other quarterbacks right now that are getting paid what he's getting paid."
And you know what I say, handy, it's not about the money, it's what the money says. The Money says right now in Jacksonville, that Trevor Lawrence, you're a franchise quarterback, and we're paying you in line with Joe Burrow, we're paying you in line right now with Justin Herbert, LamarJackson, Josh Allen, we're paying you because we think you can elevate the team around you like they can, and he can't do it."
Lawrence signed a five-year deal worth $275 million contract. His annual average of $55 million is tied with Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and Jordan Love for the second-most among quarterbacks in the NFL, so Lane has a valid point. However, the issue isn't as black and white as several observers make it sound.
Both the Jaguars and Trevor Lawrence must do their part
Nobody will deny that Trevor Lawrence needs to play better. While he's proven that he can elevate his game, he's missing the easy throws, and that's a reason for concern.
It would be one thing if he were a rookie, but he's a fifth-year veteran. Granted, he's played under different head coaches and hasn't truly had stability throughout his career. Having said that, there's a point where you cannot just keep spreading the blame and must shoulder your fair share. That's where Austen Lane's criticism comes in.
Lawrence cannot wait for everything around him to be perfect to thrive. NFL legends John Elway, Drew Brees routinely had to carry their respective teams. And more often than not, both of them elevated everyone around them.
Now, nobody is suggesting Lawrence is in the same echelon as Elway or Brees. Far from it. But if even Hall-of-Fame quarterbacks struggled when their supporting cast was less than ideal, what can you expect from No. 16? Heck, Justin Herbert, like Lawrence, doesn't have a top-notch supporting cast and isn't precisely lighting up the scoreboard.
Right now, the Jags lead the league in drops. The offensive line cannot block, and the defense cannot stop opponents from scoring. How can you expect just one player to pick up the slack and win games on a consistent basis?
Again, Lawrence has to play better, especially when you take into account that he's the face of the franchise and the highest-paid player on the team. That said, a bit of help wouldn't hurt.
In the end, there's going to be a point at which Trevor Lawrence will have to deliver. He needs to operate with a sense of urgency because it may not be this year, or even next, but there's going to be a point where his future with the Jaguars will be cloudy if he doesn't deliver the goods. Heck, there's already chatter about him potentially leaving, and the only way to shut down the noise is to win.