What Trevor Lawrence’s extension means for Jaguars’ contention in 2024 and beyond

Ben Arthur

AFC South Reporter

Trevor Lawrence’s new mega deal can raise eyebrows at first glance. 

Despite a league-leading 60 turnovers since entering the league in 2021, a middling 85.0 passer rating, a 20-30 regular season record and just one playoff victory, Lawrence secured a five-year, $275 million extension from the Jacksonville Jaguars last week. It ties him with the Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow as the highest-paid player in league history in regard to average annual value ($55 million per year). 

The deal also includes $200 million in total guarantees, the fourth-most in the NFL, and $142 million fully guaranteed, third-most. 

“I am beyond grateful to be able to continue my career in Jacksonville,” Lawrence said last week. “I know that the best is yet to come and this is only the beginning. The drive to bring a championship to Duval is bigger than ever.”

Don’t let the numbers on the surface fool you, though. When you actually drill down, this looks like a team-friendly, franchise quarterback contract. 

By extending Lawrence now, with two years remaining on his rookie deal (2024 and 2025, his fifth-year option season), the Jaguars get the former No. 1 pick under contract for the next seven seasons. He was due $45.158 million combined in 2024-25 before the extension. So across the next seven years, his true average annual value is just over $45.7 million, which is more palpable for his résumé. 

And if Lawrence plays as Jacksonville hopes in 2024 (and beyond) with a revamped supporting cast, the contract could look like a bargain in the long term. 

What does Trevor Lawrence’s deal mean for Dak Prescott?

Quarterback contracts are ballooning — the first $60 million-per-year player may come this offseason — and it would’ve cost the Jaguars significantly more if they had waited to pay Lawrence.

“With this five-year extension, the vision we had when we selected Trevor first overall in 2021 has…


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Publish date : 2024-06-19 18:37:13

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