3 crucial things Trevor Lawrence must do for the Jaguars to shed overrated label

The Jacksonville Jaguars signaled their trust in Trevor Lawrence when they gave him a top-market contract in the offseason. However, he doesn't get as much recognition as his peers across the league even though he's played at a high level the past two seasons. Just recently, Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report outlined one key reason the former Clemson Tiger is such a polarizing figure.

Gagnon drew up a list of the NFL players that create the biggest divide and included Lawrence, pointing out that the Jaguars' have yet to reach double-digit wins with the fourth-year quarterback behind center.

" The Jaguars have yet to finish above 9-8 with Lawrence, who was the league's 21st highest-rated passer during a disappointing 2023 campaign and has lacked consistency and durability for much of his career."

Gagnon doesn't just bash Lawrence, though. He argues that the No. 1 overall pick in 2022 has certainly shown he can play at a high level but wonders whether he'll be able to at last put it all together next season.

"Is this the year? Or will he again fail to put it all together with a so-so supporting cast? And how will his newfound pot of gold impact his psyche and performance?"

Lawrence was dubbed a generational talent coming out of college. As such, he's been under heavy scrutiny the past three years. The talent is certainly there, but he's faced lots of hurdles in his young NFL career to join the top echelon of quarterbacks.

As a rookie, Lawrence was hampered by the ineptitude of Urban Meyer, who had no idea how to develop a quarterback, much less lead an NFL team. Having survived the Meyer debacle mostly unscathed, No. 16 showed noticeable progress under Doug Pederson in 2022.

Under the tutelage of Pederson, Lawrence played a a top-10 level to end the 2022 season. He played a key role in their playoff push and later their comeback win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Super Wild Card weekend.

Expecting to make the leap in 2023, Lawrence instead took a step back. In his defense, that regression was the result of not having a running game to lean on, poor protection up front, and playing hurt. Still, he's the face of the franchise so he — fair or not — got some of the blame for the Jaguars' collapse to end the year.

Now, Lawrence is looking to bounce back and prove once for all that he's was deserving of the generational talent moniker. Achieving these three things in 2024 will help him accomplish the feat.

Trevor Lawrence must stay healthy in 2024

Availability is the most important ability in the NFL. You can be the most talented player in the world but if you cannot take the football field, it isn't of much use. Granted, nobody gets hurt because they want to, but Trevor Lawrence will have to stay healthy if he wants to solidify his spot as a top-10 quarterback.

Last year, Lawrence dealt with a series of injuries that hindered his performance. First, his knee, then his ankle, his shoulder was next, and later a concussion. That he missed just one game goes on to prove just how tough he is. That said, his injuries coincided with the team's inability to win games to close in 2023.

Fortunately for the Jaguars, Lawrence is fully healthy, and the team's brass made reinforcements to his supporting cast. Behind an improved offensive line, Steezy Trev should have no trouble performing to the best of his capabilities.

The Jaguars must get to 10 wins with Trevor Lawrence under center

Wins aren't a good indicator of a quarterback's performance. While it's true that they have the biggest influence on the outcome of a football game, a lot more goes into deciding whether a team wins or loses. On the other hand, the best signal-callers in the league can make everyone better and come out on top when things get tough.

Lawrence has proven he can do that. The biggest example was when he helped the Jags erase a 27-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2022 playoffs. But as Brad Gagnon pointed out, Jacksonville has yet to get to 10 wins with him at the helm. In the words of legendary coach Bill Parcells, you are what your record says you are. That must change.

Working in his favor is that Lawrence will no longer have to carry the whole team on his shoulders. The Jaguars have a renewed commitment to running the ball, and the defense, under Ryan Nielsen, will pick some of the slack, so the Jags should have no trouble racking up 10 wins or more in 2024.

Trevor Lawrence must be clutch in the playoffs

The playoffs is where players truly show how good they are. Those who perform get all the glory and recognition. Those that don't get the dreaded chokers label. Lawrence has certainly delivered the time played on the biggest stage back in 2022.

The Jaguars will need to make the playoffs in 2024, and when they do, Lawrence must make the most of his opportunity and showcase his elite talent. It's as simple as that. If he can prove that his comeback win over the Chargers in 2022 wasn't a fluke but rather a small sample of what he's capable of doing, his reputation around the NFL will get a massive surge.

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