Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence makes surprise appearance in impressive list

Even though the Jacksonville Jaguars need to make upgrades to most positional groups in the offseason, they don’t have to worry about the quarterback position due to the presence of Trevor Lawrence, who should be entrenched as the starter for years to come. Not long ago, the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft was among a select group of players that appeared in a rather illustrious list.

Anthony Treash of Pro Football Focus recently put together a list of 10 NFL players to start a franchise with in 2022 and Lawrence popped up at number seven. From the get-go, Treash acknowledges the former Clemson Tiger didn’t have a good rookie campaign, posting a PFF overall grade of 59.6. However, he notes that he displayed all the traits that made him the top pick in last year’s draft. He goes on to praise Lawrence’s pocket awareness and his “elite-level arm talent”.

"His pocket presence has been at a rare level for a rookie — Lawrence converted pressure to sacks at the fifth-lowest rate in the league (14.5%). The Clemson product has also been a playmaker under duress, tying for the third-most pressured big-time throws (12). Lawrence has elite-level arm talent. There were times where he tried to do too much, but that’s common for a rookie. It would have been difficult for any rookie prospect in recent memory to produce in the same ecosystem Lawrence was in this past year."

Other players that made Treash’s list are Patrick Mahomes (1), Joe Burrow (2), Justin Herbert (3), Josh Allen (4), Kyler Murray (5), Dak Prescott (6), Justin Fields (8), Mac Jones (9), and Lamar Jackson (10). Not surprisingly, there are no non-quarterback players on the list. As important as all other positions are, none has a bigger impact and influence on the football field than quarterback and it’s encouraging to see Lawrence make the cut in spite of not having a good rookie season.

The Jaguars find more franchise building blocks besides Trevor Lawrence.

Lawrence showed signs in 2021 he’s the Jaguars’ quarterback of the future but the front office needs to get more playmakers if they want to win more games next season. Other than defensive end Josh Allen, running back James Robinson, who is coming off a torn Achilles, and maybe cornerback Tyson Campbell, who else would you consider to be a building block?

The Jags have many solid contributors but not enough blue-chip players. On the bright side, they’re going to have around $63 million in cap space, and the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. If they make the right moves in the offseason, they could make a significant leap this year.

The Jaguars should be thrilled that Lawrence is seen in the same light as players such as Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes. They now need to do what the Kansas City Chiefs and the Dallas Cowboys have done for their respective quarterbacks: Build around them to put them in a position to succeed.