3 reasons to believe Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence will be the 2023 NFL MVP

Trevor Lawrence is becoming everything the Jacksonville Jaguars could have hoped for when they unquestionably drafted him with the first overall pick in 2021. Despite a tumultuous rookie season, he held his head high, was professional, and worked hard to develop.

Lawrence's diligence and hard work blossomed with a new well-managed regime under HC Doug Pederson. Now in 2023, everything is set for the prince that was promised to become the King of Jacksonville.

To full fill his destiny, Lawrence will need to win the very first MVP award. Winning an MVP isn't a solo accomplishment though; many pieces must come together to make that happen. So let's look at three reasons Lawrence could finally bring an MVP award home to Jacksonville.

3. Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence has a HC that will push him to get better

First is his coaching staff. Doug Pederson took over after a debacle left by Urban Meyer. It took a few weeks to work out the kinks and exorcise the ghost of that previous regime, but once Pederson did, the Jaguars were unrecognizable from their last-place 2021 team.

Pederson has cleaned up the organization and culture and inspired hope in Jacksonville. He has developed the young team and has them working as a unit. With Pederson at the helm, the Jags are finally an NFL-caliber franchise. His presence, guidance, and experience are the best reason Lawrence will exceed his projections and be in the MVP debates.

2. The Jaguars 2023 schedule favors Trevor Lawrence to put up huge numbers

The Jaguars' 2023 schedule is the second reason Lawrence will be elevated to the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks in 2023. The third-year pro excels in big-game matchups against premier opposing quarterbacks.

Lawrence's best games last season were against Lamar Jackson, Dak Prescot, Derek Carr, and Justin Herbert. Despite being the underdog in every one of those games, he won all four games and bested Herbert a second time in the playoffs. The former Clemson Tiger threw for 1136 yards and 11 touchdowns in those four big-time games.

Lawrence will face all the big top-tier passers this year in advantageous situations. He will be at home when the Jags face Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals, the Baltimore Ravens with Lamar Jackson, and whoever starts behind center for the San Francisco 49ers in 2023.

In the away game against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, the Jaguars will play in their second home, Wembley Stadium, London. The Jags will play back-to-back games in their home away from home as away games, giving them ten home games this year.

Add in that 10 of Jaguar's games will come against AFC and NFC South opponents, all expected to finish the season sub .500. Simply, the schedule is set for Lawrence to excel in big-time matchups that will escalate to shoot-outs, played in his house, with home-field advantage and a run of lackluster opponents to pad his stats on.

Lawrence will pick up at least two upset wins in those highlighted matchups. It couldn't be any more ideal for Lawrence. Reasonable expectations are 13-4 this season which will add to his MVP credentials in 2023.

1. Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence's supporting cast can propel him to MVP heights

Next, let's talk about the supporting cast. The weapons at Lawrence's disposal — the receivers, running backs, and tight ends — need to be on point. In Jacksonville, the peripherals are stacked for him to thrive.

The Jaguars have the best array of offensive options in the NFL. Several teams can throw their names in the conversation, and most media outlets will tell you that San Francisco has the best collection of offensive weapons but the Jaguars' are deeper, more explosive, and more versatile.

Let's start with the running back room—Travis Etienne is a playmaking and game-changing back that disrupts a defense game plan. Etienne had 1,441 total yards and 14 total touchdowns; a comparable performance would be Christian McCafree's 1,880 total yards and 13 touchdowns for the Panthers and 49ers.

Etienne is going into just his second season of play this year and is only 24 years old; he is an underrated top-tier RB1.

As the No. 2 back, Tank Bigsby will be far more productive and provide adequate relief to Etienne while making defenses adjust to a new running threat.

Due to some miss management and poor drafting, instead of adding Dalton Kincaid, Sam Laporta, or Michael Mayer to create a dangerous two-headed monster at tight end, the Jaguars are going in with just Evan Engram.

Engram hauled in 76 catches for 766 yards in another bug contract year, and more red zone looks like he's a top-tier tight end going into 2023.

Lawrence's wide receiver corps is intriguing. Loaded with talent and speed, the combination of Zay Jones, Christian Kirk, and Calvin Ridley may quietly be the best trio in the NFL. They are interchangeable in offensive packages and will create mismatches constantly. Ridley has much to prove and will be a candidate for the come-back player of the year.

The defining factor that makes Jacksonville's offensive group so devastating is one everyone will overlook. Jamal Agnew. Capable of blowing games wide open and is a player opposing teams can not prepare for.

Agnew's unfortunate fumble in the playoffs against the Cheifs effectively ended the Jag's season last year. He will go into 2023 with that motivating him to be a Deebo Samuels-style playmaker and push Jaguars beyond expectations this year.

In short, Trevor Lawrence has an array of breakout playmakers with everything to prove going into 2023. He will not have to go far into his check-downs for completion this year. His completion percentage will go up, and his possession time before throws will go down, which is the final reason Lawrence could win the MVP.

The coaches, fans, and organizations believe entirely in him. The NFL wants to see him succeed and become a marketing asset and the face of football in London. His talented weapons trust in him and want to use him to elevate themselves to greatness. Why won't Trevor Lawrence be the MVP?

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