The general consensus in Jacksonville is that the Jaguars will make Trevor Lawrence one of the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks sooner rather than later. If Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson’s most recent comment on the subject, “Hopefully it gets done, and it will,” wasn’t enough to validate that view, what the team’s own reporters are saying could be. “The feeling I have,” Jaguars senior writer John Oehser said in a roundtable discussion on Jags A.M. Tuesday, “it’s going to be done for the season.”
Lawrence, who is entering his fourth season in the NFL after being selected first overall by Jacksonville in the 2021 draft, is eligible for a contract extension in March. After a disastrous first season under Urban Meyer, Lawrence and head coach Doug Pederson led the Jaguars to consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 2004-05. During that time, he completed 65.9% of his throws for 8,129 yards, 46 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions, while also scoring nine times rushing.
As a result, it is widely expected that Jacksonville will pay Lawrence handsomely to stay as the Jaguars strive for something that teams can seldom achieve without a franchise quarterback: winning the Lombardi Trophy. The question is, when will the two parties reach an agreement? A follow-up question: What will it be worth? “‘Why isn’t it finished now?’ Because it’s a massive deal. It’s complicated. And there are a lot of things that you have to put within the cap, not just this year or next, but in the future,” Oehser noted.
“You’re building your cap’s house, and Trevor Lawrence must be the foundation. I believe it gets done. I keep receiving emails saying, ‘They better not make Trevor the highest-paid—,’ So, best buckle up. “It’s coming.” “I keep hearing that it isn’t quite done. “Imminent isn’t the right word, but don’t be surprised if they have it ready to go any day or when training camp starts,” Jaguars senior writer Brian Sexton said. “It’s obviously something they’ve put a lot of work into.” Five of the previous six starting quarterbacks to sign long-term contracts with their teams earned an average annual salary of at least $50 million. Throughout their contracts, each passer will receive at least $170 million in guaranteed pay.
If Lawrence does not receive the next quarterback extension, his demands are certain to rise. Next in line appears to be Tua Tagovailoa, a rising fifth-year Miami signal-caller.
“They have time, but let’s just remember that the market only goes up, not down,” former Jaguars defensive back and current media analyst Bucky Brooks said. “And the sooner they get it done, the better the economic situation will be in the long run.
“The annual cost of the arrangement will most likely exceed $50 million. That will just be the going pay for the quarterback. When we consider Jared Goff’s $53 [million], Tua Tagovailoa will be in that bracket, and it will help establish the parameters of the deal Trevor signs. In an ideal situation, you’d like to finish it before Tua signs his, since whatever Tua receives, [Lawrence] will want a little more on top. So hopefully they can finish this.”
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