Breaking: Arizona Cardinals Grounds Set to Land Another Blockbuster Trade To Bolster Their Roster…

Trevor Lawrence’s New Jaguars Contract Poised to Be One of NFL’s Best Deals

Trevor Lawrence, the latest quarterback to secure a massive contract, is now the proud owner of one of the NFL’s most team-friendly deals. The often underappreciated leader of the Jaguars exemplifies the disconnect between mere box score scouting and actually watching a player’s performance, making this contract particularly advantageous for Jacksonville.

Lawrence’s contract boasts a $40.4 million average annual value (AAV) when accounting for guarantees and bonuses, placing him as the 11th highest-paid quarterback in the league by AAV. This is despite his status as a former No. 1 overall pick and his recent entry into the second-contract club.

For casual fans, it’s been easy to overlook just how prolific Lawrence has become. Apart from his rocky rookie season under Urban Meyer, Lawrence has transformed into a reliable 4,000+ yard passer, completing over 65% of his passes in each of the past two years and maintaining an impressive 46/22 TD/INT ratio. Remarkably, he achieved this without an elite receiving corps, with Calvin Ridley and Christian Kirk leading the way.

As Lawrence heads into the 2024 season, the Jaguars have diversified their receiving talent, making them less reliant on any single player. Despite losing Ridley, the team compensated by assembling a formidable trio of Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. This spread of talent should not only surpass Ridley’s production but also provide Lawrence, a precise passer, with more targets across the field.

Lawrence’s progression is evident in his increasing intended air yards per attempt, which rose from 7.4 in 2022 to 8.2 in 2023, without a significant drop in completion accuracy. This indicates his growing ability to handle more responsibility, suggesting a further breakout in 2024.

Moreover, Lawrence has had to overcome a significant number of dropped passes—64 in the last two years—comparable to the challenges faced by Patrick Mahomes. Assuming Lawrence continues his upward trajectory, he could achieve around 4,300 passing yards and 25-30 touchdowns this season, placing him among the league’s elite quarterbacks.

Remarkably, Lawrence is paid less than many of his peers, providing tremendous value for the Jaguars. Here’s where he ranks among the highest-paid quarterbacks:

1. Lamar Jackson — $51.8M
2. Jared Goff — $48.4M
3. Deshaun Watson — $46M
4. Patrick Mahomes — $45M
5. Kirk Cousins — $45M
6. Joe Burrow — $43.8M
7. Dak Prescott — $42M
8. Jalen Hurts — $41.6M
9. Daniel Jones — $41M
10. Justin Herbert — $40.9M
11. Trevor Lawrence — $40.4M

While comparisons between players in different systems can be tricky, a strong case can be made for Lawrence over quarterbacks like Kirk Cousins, Deshaun Watson, or Daniel Jones, and arguably even over Jared Goff and Jalen Hurts.

Securing Lawrence at this relatively modest AAV is a strategic win for Jacksonville, especially as the salary cap increases and quarterback salaries inflate. This deal allows the Jaguars to allocate more resources to other positions, enhancing their overall competitiveness.

By locking in this deal early, Jacksonville has positioned itself smartly, similar to the Buffalo Bills with Josh Allen’s extension. Such savvy front-office moves lay the groundwork for future success. The Jaguars are on the brink of something special.