Amid concerns about Trevor Lawrence’s standing with the Jaguars, in the wake of the frustrating season he simply had, coach Doug Pederson on Tuesday restated that Jacksonville still sees him as its quarterback.
The previous No. 1 total choice is eligible for a 2nd agreement this offseason.
“I’m thrilled for the future with Trevor,” Pederson stated at the NFL Scouting Combine. “He’s thrilled.”
That shouldn’t modification how the Jags method his looming extension, .
The group’s finest course of action is still to choice up the fifth-year choice in his novice agreement by the May 2 duedate — slated to be a $25.6 million totally ensured income for Lawrence in 2025, as he has satisfied the playtime requirement — and review extension talks next offseason.
Paying Lawrence huge dollars now might be ravaging long-lasting for Jacksonville, which can’t yet be specific he’s a real franchise quarterback, thinkingabout his 2023 regression. Lawrence’s numbers dropped from the previous year in conclusion rate (down to 65.6% from 66.3%), death lawns (4,016 last season; 4,113 in 2022), death goals (21 last season; 25 in 2022), interceptions (14 last season; 8 in 2022), passer ranking (88.5 last season; 95.2 in 2022) and EPA per dropback (-.09 last season; 0.11 in 2022). He likewise had 21 turnovers last season, third-worst in the league.
That’s likewise why waiting a year is mostlikely in the finest interest for Lawrence, too. With a strong 2024, he would put himself right back into the discussion of a 2nd agreement at or near the leading of the quarterback market. Signing a offer now might hurt his earning capacity for the life of his NFL profession.
So, regardless of how you appearance at it, Jacksonville shouldn’t be pushed into extending Lawrence over the next coupleof months.
And even in the method Pederson has talked about Lawrence, even in support him, it doesn’t noise like the Jags oughtto be on the verge of paying the previous No. 1 general choice.
At his end-of-season press conference, Pederson stated the No. 1 thing the QB requires to tidy up is his tendency for turnovers (he has 60 freegifts because goinginto the league in 2021, most in the league in that period). On Tuesday, Pederson included that Lawrence’s next action is “continuing to comprehend our offense.” He desires Lawrence to speak up more, to take ownership of the system.
The totality of that quibbling of a future fourth-year quarterback does not show that Jacksonville is prepared to pay him like a franchise quarterback.
“Just understanding videogame circumstances,” Pederson continued on what Lawrence requires to enhance. “Managing the videogame in a specific method at particular times throughout the course of the videogame. Those are all locations that we can continue as a personnel to help him and aid him get to where we desire to be.”
Maybe Lawrence’s play informs us something various at this time next year. Maybe he endsupbeing what we all anticipated after his breakout 2022 season.
Better offensive-line play would go a long method to assisting that cause.
Center Luke Fortner hadahardtime and the left side of the line was a revolving door in 2023, harming the run videogame (the Jaguars ranked 24th in hurrying offense last season) and Lawrence’s security. He suffered shoulder, knee and ankle injuries this past season, as well as a concussion. He was sidelined for Week 17 versus the Panthers, the veryfirst time he missedouton a videogame in his NFL profession.
“We didn’t have consistency. We didn’t have connection. That impacts 5 guys inadvance,” Pederson stated. “That’s where we have to get back to, however we can likewise assistance them as coaches and prepare them muchbetter. And I understand we will be beginning this offseason.”
And wear’t get it twisted: The Jaguars still have faith in Lawrence.
“I wear’t get into the agreement things — I leave that for Trent [Baalke] and the representatives and things — however I simply understand that our guy is the right guy,” Pederson stated. “He’s got the right attitude. He’s got the right management. It’s our task as coaches to make sure he takes that next action.
“This will be another huge offseason for him and his advancement and his development,” he included. “By no implies is he where he desires to be or where we desire him to be, however truly looking forward to working with Trevor.”
There’s no factor for the Jaguars to dedicate to more than the fifth-year choice at this point, .
Pederson’s public messages of assistance for Lawrence indirectly state the exactsame thing.
Ben Arthur is the AFC South pressreporter for FOX Sports. He formerly worked for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Network, where he was the Titans beat author for a year and a half. He covered the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) prior to moving to Tennessee. You can follow Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.
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