Following the 2022 season, it looked like Trevor Lawrence was on his way to cementing himself as a top-10 quarterback. However, he's been inconsistent the past two years, and the Jacksonville Jaguars will need him to get back to form if they want to challenge the Houston Texans for the AFC South title in 2025. Opinions are divided on whether No. 16 will pull it off.
The Athletic put together a quarterback ranking ahead of the 2025 season and placed Lawrence at No. 17. The result was based on a survey of league executives and coaches.
All things considered, Lawrence's place is fair, and that's where you'll often find him (if not a bit lower) in other rankings. After all, he hasn't consistently played at a high level since 2022. You could argue that he's been hurt or that he hasn't gotten support from Jacksonville. You would be right, but regardless of the reason, the former Clemson Tiger hasn't delivered. But apart from his spot in the ranking, what's telling is the league's overall perception of him.
Related:4 crucial observations from the Jags loss to the Steelers in the season opener
What are NFL execs and coaches saying about Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence?
One coach who took part in The Athletic's survey argues that Trevor Lawrence's talent didn't match his production on the field last year.
"I always thought Lawrence was a unique talent from a body-type standpoint — so athletic for a guy that tall — and the way he played at Clemson was outstanding," the coach told The Athletic. "But when I watched him this year (2024), the instinct wasn't as high there. He looked hesitant. He had some ugly tape."
In Lawrence's defense, the protection he got in 2024 was lackluster, and outside of Brian Thomas Jr., the Jags didn't truly have a playmaker. It also didn't help that Doug Pederson didn't work with him to hone his fundamentals and instead delegated the task to right-hand man Press Taylor, who was underqualified for it.
But leaving aside the reasons for Lawrence's underwhelming 2024, a former NFL general manager says that he's yet to prove that he's a franchise quarterback who can put his team on his shoulders.
"He hasn't proved that he can take the team up a level or make the team play better than they are," the former general manager said. "I definitely think Liam Coen can help him if he is able to be helped."
And that's most definitely gives the Jaguars a reason for optimism.
Jaguars HC Liam Coen can turn Trevor Lawrence into a top-10 quarterback
Like the anonymous ex-general manager, Steve Palazzolo of the Check The Mic podcast believes Liam Coen can give the Jacksonville Jaguars the best version of Trevor Lawrence, and it's easy to see why.
The Jags hired Coen in part because of his ability to get his quarterbacks to a high level, and he's been working with Lawrence from Day 1 to improve his fundamentals. He started with his footwork, then how he used his eyes, and more recently, he's put a focus on his progressions and decision-making.
This is a long-winded way to say that Coen is doing what he can to put Lawrence in a position to succeed. Couple that with the addition of Travis Hunter and Dyami Brown to his arsenal of weapons, and it's easy to see the fifth-year quarterback have the best season of his career in 2025.
Of course, there's a reason to be skeptical since Lawrence is coming off a pair of unremarkable seasons, but the pieces are there to play at a high level (and move up a few spots in next year ranking).
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