3 major takeaways from Jaguars giving Trevor Lawrence a massive extension

After months of anticipation, the Jacksonville Jaguars have given Trevor Lawrence a massive extension that makes him one the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. One thing that frequently came up in discussions in the media was what kind of contract Lawrence was going to get.

Some analysts believed (and probably still do) that Lawrence didn't deserve a top-market extension. Others even suggested that the Jags should wait and see how he performed in 2024 before giving him a new deal.

In the end, the first overall pick in the 2021 draft ended up getting a five-year contract worth $275 million with $200 million guaranteed. That's the third-highest guaranteed in the NFL, and his annual average of $55 million is tied with Joe Burrow for the most in the league right now.

The extension starts until 2026, so Lawrence will be under contract through 2030. That will allow the Jaguars to focus on other areas of the roster for the time being. With that in mind, here are three immediate observations from the deal.

The Jaguars current regime is keeping their playmakers

Toward the end of his tenure with the Jaguars, former general manager Dave Caldwell became known for trading his best players away instead of paying them. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey, defensive end Calais Campbell, edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue, and running back Leonard Fournette were core pieces in Jacksonville at that time. Campbell traded all of them.

Having left the team devoid of talent, Caldwell was given the boot in 2021. His successor, Trent Baalke, has taken a different approach.

Even though Baalke is a tough negotiator, he'd done his best to reward the team's playmakers. Last year, he made Evan Engram one of the highest-paid tight ends in the NFL. This past offseason, outside linebacker Josh Allen followed. While Baalke dragged contract talks longer than he should have, he ended up giving Allen a monster extension.

During his tenure in Jacksonville, Baalke has also shown that he's not afraid to spend if he needs to. Back in 2022, he brought in several free agents, including Engram, who went on to fill key roles for the Jags. It's true that the general manager took a conservative approach, to a fault, last year. However, he realized that scared money doesn't make money and once again took his wallet out this offseason.

Lawrence was the latest beneficiary of Baalke's willingness to spend.