How the Jaguars can get the best version of their star QB Trevor Lawrence?

Entering his fourth season as the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback, Trevor Lawrence is going nowhere but has a lot to live up to in 2024.

The 2021 first-overall pick will be behind centre for the foreseeable future, signing a five-year extension with the club earlier this summer. His first three seasons in the NFL have been like a roller coaster, and heading into 2024, he and the offense are at the bottom of that ride, according to critics.

Trevor Lawrence’s rocky NFL road

It’s been an NFL career full of bumps and bruises, mixed in with a few highs for Lawrence so far.

They were poised to be the No. 1 seed in the AFC heading into the Monday Night Football disaster versus the Cincinnati Bengals. Lawrence and the team were never the same after that. He was arguably the best quarterback in the league down the stretch of the 2022 regular season, leading the Jags to their first playoff appearance since 2017.

However, rather than see him play out this season, Trent Baalke decided to invest in Lawrence, a gamble that he hopes will pay off. While Lawrence has $275 million reasons to smile about his new deal, he’s also got a lot to live up to. He’s now the joint-highest-paid player in the NFL alongside Joe Burrow and has to prove he’s worth it.

What’s holding Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence back?

To pinpoint what’s holding Lawrence back from the generational talent status scouts pegged him to be out of college is complicated.

The Clemson product, who won the 2018 national championship and was the 2021 ACC Athlete of the Year, has yet to fulfill his tremendous potential as a pro.

His rookie NFL campaign was a disaster, completing just over 59 percent of his throws with a touchdown-interception ratio of 12-17 and a 71.9 passer rating. Fortunately, his reputation was not tarnished after that, and that’s because Urban Meyer was in charge.

At the 31-game mark of his NFL career, Lawrence flourished with a 44-20 touchdown-interception ratio, completing over 66 percent of his passes and having a 93.1 passer rating. Last season, after suffering his high ankle sprain, he went 0-4 in his final four starts. He had seven touchdowns, seven picks, and a 60 percent completion percentage.

Lawrence has shown he can take command of a huddle and also proved he could overcome adversity and thrive as evidenced by their massive comeback over the Chargers in the AFC Wild Card Round. However, it's a different kind of pressure that may be hindering him.

According to Pro Football Focus Data, facing constant pressure is his biggest problem. In 2021, his passer rating versus pressure was 43.2, which upgraded to 53.7 in 2022 and 62.4 last season.

Against a blitz, Lawrence went from a passer rating of 69.5 in his rookie season to 88.3 in Year 2 and 68.2 in 2023.

How can you get the best out of Trevor Lawrence?

It’s pretty obvious what needs to happen for the Jaguars quarterback to become elite, and it’s been talked about repeatedly.

Lawrence needs to be better protected up front. If his blockers are healthy in 2024, he can return to his 2022 self. Cam Robinson is perhaps the top offensive lineman on the Jags, but Mitch Morse only gave up one sack in 2023 and could also be a huge asset. Right guard Brandon Scherff has shown that he can be elite, while Walker Little, Luke Fortner, and Ezra Cleveland need to develop quickly.

That said, Lawrence was praised in college for being not just a pocket passer but also able to throw under pressure and on the run. That part of his game has yet to be seen in the NFL. The O-line can’t always give him the time he needs, so Lawrence needs to be creative when faced with heat and find a way.

Overall, though, the question will be, can Lawrence be elite if he’s not given enough time in the pocket? If the offensive line can give him just a fraction more time in the pocket in the future, critics may be changing their tune on the Knoxville man.

More Jaguars analysis here: