B/R's nightmare scenario for Jaguars and Trevor Lawrence unlikely to happen

One of the biggest storylines surrounding the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024 is whether they'll give Trevor Lawrence a contract extension and whether he'll become one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL. Based on how things have unfolded, there's a chance he'll get a new contract before the regular season. Just recently, Bleacher Report brought up the possibility that the Jags could be stuck in a less-than-ideal situation.

Brad Gagnon of B/R drew up a nightmare scenario for each NFL team. For Jacksonville, he thinks that paying Lawrence would be troublesome if he doesn't take the next step in 2024.

"Another non-elite year from Trevor Lawrence, either at a premium rate or on the brink of an offseason in which the Jaguars will have to make a huge financial call on his future."

That would certainly be a nightmare scenario, as the contract would limit the Jaguars' ability to retain other core players or prevent them from making any substantial signings in free agency.

What led B/R to believe Trevor Lawrence could be stuck in neutral in 2024?

Lawrence is coming off a somewhat disappointing season. Expected to have a breakout season after a promising 2022, he took a step back. His number of turnovers increased noticeably while his touchdown totals went down. This has led to questions about his viability as a franchise quarterback.

While Lawrence shoulders some of the blame for his regression, factors outside his control also play a role. The offensive line couldn't block and injuries exposed the team's dearth of depth across the board. Drops also affected the offense's overall efficiency. To make matters worse, the star quarterback dealt with several injuries that hindered his performance in the second half of the season.

But as "bad" as Lawrence was, he routinely gave the Jaguars a chance to win. The Jaguars know it, which is why they made upgrades to his supporting cast in the offseason. Not only did the front office fortify the offensive trenches but they also gave him a new pair of weapons in Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis.

The Jaguars will pay Trevor Lawrence because they know he's their franchise QB

The Jacksonville Jaguars are aware Trevor Lawrence could've been better in 2023. Head coach Doug Pederson called his performance good but not great. But in the same breath, he's had praise for the Knoxville, Tennessee Native, noting that he's improved on and off the field. Not surprisingly, he wants to see him get paid soon. And that's the thing, the team's brass has routinely stated that extending their franchise quarterback is one of their top priorities this offseason.

General manager Trent Baalke, a tough negotiator, has openly said that contract talks have gone well. Similarly, Lawrence seems to be comfortable with how the process is going. If the Jaguars weren't sure he's their guy, they would be talking about how he needs to prove himself or something along the lines. That's not the case.

And for the sake of argument, let's say Lawrence played like he did last year, that wouldn't be that bad. One look at the tape shows that he was still playing at a high level despite the fact that he was pressured at an alarming rate. The same can't be said about their supporting cast.

While tight end Evan Engram and wide receiver Christian Kirk generally played well, the skill-position players routinely dropped passes at the worst possible time.

Now picture a healthy Lawrence heading into 2024. With better talent sorrounding him. It's hard to see him not getting better. In fact, expect him to once again be in the conversation about the top quarterbacks in the league.

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