As the NFL quarterback market heats up with colossal deals, all eyes are on Jacksonville Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence, whose contract talks are becoming a hot topic.
The recent eye-watering four-year, $212 million extension handed to Jared Goff by the Detroit Lions has set the stage, pegging Goff as the second-highest-paid QB in the league with a staggering $53 million per season. In this high-stakes financial atmosphere, speculation abounds on who’s next to hit the jackpot.
Case Against Elite Money for Trevor Lawrence
While many anticipate that Lawrence will be the next to secure a hefty pay raise, Dan Orlovsky, a former quarterback turned ESPN analyst, casts doubts on whether Lawrence is ready to join the ranks of the NFL’s financial elite.
During a segment on “NFL Live,” Orlovsky delivered a frank assessment of Lawrence’s performance and his financial worth. There’s no way we can sit here and say he deserves elite money right now,” Orlovsky expressed. He acknowledged Lawrence’s potential, noting, “He’s an elite talent, and you would be paying him because you expect him to become an elite quarterback.
However, Orlovsky pointed out that Lawrence has not yet proven himself among the top echelons of NFL quarterbacks. “Trevor hasn’t ascended into that just yet,” he added.
Trevor Lawrence Performance By the Numbers
Three years into his NFL tenure, Lawrence’s statistics paint a picture of a promising yet unfulfilled talent. Averaging 235.4 yards per game with a total of 58 touchdowns against 39 interceptions, his completion rate stands at 63.8%, with a passer rating of 85—both figures linger below the league’s average. These numbers place him on the edge of transitioning from good to great but not quite touching the realm of the elite.
The stakes are high, and if Lawrence were to land a deal reflecting the current quarterback market value in 2024, it could see him earning around $50 million annually, catapulting him into the echelons of the highest-paid quarterbacks. This club currently includes names like Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, and Jalen Hurts—all earning north of $51 million per year.
Jacksonville Jaguars Strategic Pause?
Orlovsky suggests that Lawrence might benefit from a strategic pause, focusing on honing his skills further before locking in a new contract. “I wouldn’t rush and sign if I was Trevor Lawrence,” he advised, implying that a better performance could lead to a more lucrative deal in the future.
This advice comes in light of the Jaguars’ moderate success with Lawrence at the helm, sporting a 17-16 record over the last two seasons under his starting quarterback role.
Jacksonville Jaguars Timing
As the quarterback market continues to inflate, the question of whether Trevor Lawrence should secure “elite money” now or later remains a compelling narrative. With his current track record, the decision could go either way, making his next steps crucial not only for his wallet but for his legacy in the league. Will Lawrence leap into the top tier, or will he remain a potential yet to be fully realized? Only time will tell.
