The Jacksonville Jaguars are counting on several players to help them win games in 2022. However, none will have a bigger role in their success or lack thereof than quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who’s expected to make a leap in Year 2.
Dubbed a generational talent ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft, Lawrence struggled as a rookie, completing 59.6 percent of his throws for 3,641 with 12 touchdowns and 17 touchdowns. That’s certainly not the kind of output you expect from the first overall pick but it’s important to note that the Jaguars’ didn’t put him in a position to succeed.
Besides not getting Lawrence enough weapons on offense, Urban Meyer had several missteps when it came to the young passer’s development. On the bright side, Meyer is gone and there seems to be a plan in place to squeeze every ounce of talent out of the former Clemson Tiger. With that in mind, here are three reasons Lawrence will have a breakout season in 2022.
3. The Jaguars defense will take pressure off Trevor Lawrence’s shoulders
The 2021 season is one the Jaguars would surely like to forget. Not only did they have a hard time moving the ball and scoring points but they also struggled to stop opposing offenses from reaching their end zone.
Sure, the Jags’ offense deserves blame for not being able to put points on the scoreboard but the defense was at fault too, since their inability to stop teams from scoring put the onus on the offense to catch up. Fortunately, the team’s brass realized that their defense needed improvements and made upgrades to most position groups on the side of the ball in the offseason.
Besides using the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft on edge defender Travon Walker, the Jags revamped their linebacker corps, and beefed up their defensive front with the addition of Arden Key and Folorunso Fatukasi in free agency. Furthermore, they rounded out their cornerback group with the signing of Darious Williams.
Although Lawrence has better weapons (more on that later), he won’t be asked to score 40 points and single-handedly win games. He won’t have to if the defense can make enough stops and double their turnover totals from last year.
2. The Jaguars surrounded Trevor Lawrence with more weapons
You knew the Jags were probably going to lose last year when they started trailing because they didn’t have the firepower to keep up with opposing teams. While there were a few bright spots on offense, Jacksonville didn’t have nearly enough playmakers around Trevor Lawrence nor the depth to withstand injuries.
Marvin Jones Jr. is as reliable as they come, and Laquon Treadwell had a breakout season. However, defensive coordinators didn’t have to gameplan for either receiver. Similarly, Dan Arnold became one of Lawrence’s favorite targets but once he went down with an MCL injury in Week 11, the offense suffered a dip in production. The same is true for DJ Chark Jr. who was supposed to be the team’s No. 1 option in the passing game but fractured his ankle in Week 4.
For that reason, general manager Trent Baalke signed a handful of difference-makers in free agency and also fortify the depth at pretty much every position group on offense. Trevor Lawrence has a new pair of receivers in Zay Jones and Christian Kirk. Evan Engram, alongside Dan Arnold, will give the Jags a one-two punch at tight end. Last but not least, they landed one of the best offensive linemen in the open market in Brandon Scherff.
Opposing defenses will now have to pick their poison, as Trevor Lawrence will have several weapons at his disposal and enough time to find them.
1. Jaguars HC Doug Pederson knows how to develop quarterbacks
The Jaguars made many important moves in the offseason but none was as significant as hiring Doug Pederson as their head coach. After giving Urban Meyer his walking papers, the organization left no stone unturned and interviewed a robust amount of candidates.
Despite the fact that the Jags came close to hiring Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, they ultimately chose Pederson. Leftwich’s refusal to work with Trent Baalke might have been a factor in his decision to pull out of consideration for the opening but Jacksonville could be better off with Pederson in the long run.
Pederson played an important role in Carson Wentz’s early development and helped the Philadelphia Eagles win their first Super Bowl in franchise history. So far, he’s earned rave reviews from Trevor Lawrence, who likes his coach’s approach to the game of football.
"It’s been great, just the way (Doug) interacts with the team, the way he leads. I think personality-wise, we’re similar. We get along well. Our demeanors are very similar."
It’s uncertain how much better Lawrence would have fared as a rookie if he had had a head coach who knew what he was doing but Pederson will help him get back on track. In fact, he said, he’s starting from scratch, focusing on the fundamentals of the position but also showing him how to conduct himself as the leader of the team.
Even though Lawrence has earned a favorable spot in most power rankings ahead of the 2022 season, there’s a chance he could become a top 15 quarterback after all the moves the Jags have made in the offseason.