Drastic path suggested for future of Trevor Lawrence as Jaguars' season unravel

Things haven't gone the way the Jacksonville Jaguars envisioned this season. Expected to bounce back after a disappointing 2023, they've instead struggled. To make matters worse, Trevor Lawrence is dealing with a shoulder injury and is unlikely to play against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 10. This has led an NFL analyst to come up with an interesting scenario for the franchise quarterback.

Not long after Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported that Lawrence is weighing his options for the future, Pete Prisco of CBS Sports suggested that the fourth-year quarterback just shut down for the remainder of the season and wait for a coaching staff to take over.

For context, Ben Johnson is one of the hottest offensive coordinators in the NFL right now and is expected to be in demand in the next hiring cycle. He was a candidate to take the Washington Commanders job this offseason but ultimately withdrew his name from consideration.

Based on the success he's enjoyed with the Detroit Lions, Johnson won't have a shortage of suitors. One of them should be the Jaguars, who've struggled in Doug Pederson's Year 3 on the job.

Pederson enjoyed immediate success when he became the head coach in 2022, taking the Jags to the playoffs in his first season at the helm. However, Jacksonville failed to qualify for the playoffs last year after an 8-3 start.

Expected to bounce back in 2024, the Jaguars instead underachieved, going 2-7 in the first nine weeks. That mostly falls on Pederson, who's seemingly disconnected from players. In fact, a report surfaced after the Week 4 loss that he had lost the locker room.

Although the head coach refuted the report, execution, and mistakes have plagued the Jaguars this season. That falls on him. Having said that, general manager Trent Baalke has also played a role in the team's underwhelming record.

Baalke made several additions to the roster in the offseason but many of them haven't panned out. Most notably, defensive lineman Arik Armstead got a three-year deal worth $43.5 million in free agency but has been a non-factor. Similarly, second-round pick Masson Smith has dealt with injuries and has been unremarkable when he's seen the football field.

The Jaguars may be better off shuting down Trevor Lawrence for the season

Based on how the 2024 season has gone for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Pete Prisco's suggestion isn't that farfetched. Granted, the former Clemson Tiger isn't the kind of player who will let his teammates fight without him, but would you blame him if he chooses to fully heal and wait until a new regime goes to Jacksonville?

Sure, Lawrence struggled early in the season but has played much better in recent weeks despite the fact that his supporting cast — with a few exceptions — is far from perfect. Add the fact that he's relationship with head coach Doug Pederson has seemingly soured, and No. 16 isn't in a position to succeed.

Simply put, it doesn't make sense for the Jaguars to expose Lawrence to further risk and what figures to be a series of meaningless games. That's why shutting him down for the season may indeed be the best course of action moving forward.

After all, it's hard to envision the Jaguars turning things around in 2024. Moreover, Doug Pederson is a likely candidate to get the boot, and the head coach who takes his place, even if it isn't Ben Johnson, will want the franchise quarterback to be healthy.

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