Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence is better than Daniel Jones and it shouldn't be a debate

In recent days, Trevor Lawrence has been in the news because he's in concussion protocol but he's also made headlines for odd reasons. A post comparing him to Daniel Jones has made the rounds on social media. While the graph makes Jones look better, or at least equally competent, there's no doubt the Jacksonville Jaguars have the better quarterback.

Here's The 33rd's version of the post but you could also run into the CBS Sports version. Either way, it doesn't portray Lawrence in a favorable light, or at least makes Jones look better than he actually is.

The most concerning numbers on the post are turnovers, with Lawrence having a combined 55 in his first 38 starts while Jones only logged 54. Lost fumbles have been a legitimate issue for the Jaguars quarterback. He just had two against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 15. Similarly, he's overthrown several passes this season but he's made good decisions for the most part.

This isn't to say that Lawrence doesn't have room for improvement. He does, but he's shown he can play at a high level. After a relatively slow start to the 2022 season, he played like a top-10 quarterback in the last nine games, completing 69.71 percent of his passes for 2,273 yards with 15 touchdowns and just two interceptions. It's not hyperbole to say that his play played a huge role in the Jags' making the playoffs and winning the AFC South last year.

Meanwhile, Jones hasn't shown he's the long-term answer at center for Big Blue. A first-round pick in the 2020 season, he had struggled before Brian Daboll became the head coach last year. Under Davoll's guidance, Jones posted career highs for completion percentage and passing yards. Similarly, he threw a career-low five interceptions, which led the Giants to give him a four-year deal worth $160 million (top-10 money) in the offseason.

However, New York probably has buyer's remorse just one year later. Jones regressed in 2023, completing 67.5 percent of his passes for 909 yards with two touchdowns and six interceptions in six games before an ACL injury cut his season short. Set to count $41.6 million against the cap in 2024, New York can free up $19.39 million in cap space with $22.21 in dead money if they release him.

As a matter of fact, the Giants aren't ruling out drafting a quarterback next year, and that's not something they would do if Jones was the long-term answer at the position. His injury history would also play a role in the decision but it's fair to say that Lawrence is firmly entrenched in Jacksonville and you will get a blank stare if you suggest that the Jaguars should move on from him anytime soon.

The Jaguars have the better quarterback and it's not even close

Whoever came up with the original post achieved his objective, get the conversation started. However, you will be hard-pressed to find an NFL executive who would pick Jones over Lawrence. Similarly, analysts routinely have pointed out that the Steezy Trev is the reason the Jaguars have managed to win games this season and not in spite of him. Here's Robert Mays of The Ringer weighing in on the discussion.

Of course, being drafted first overall comes with expectations but Lawrence is in just his third NFL season, so he's not a finished product. It's easy to forget that it took Peyton Manning a while to dispel the notion that he couldn't beat the New England Patriots in the playoffs. Similarly, he won the Super Bowl until season 7.

While Joe Montana was a third-round pick, he also needed time to reach his legend status. That pretty much applies to the best quarterbacks in NFL history. This isn't to say that Lawrence will be as good as Montana or Manning, but judging him based on what he's done in three years is short-sighted, especially when you take into account that he's played great at times. He just needs to be a bit more consistent, and the Jaguars need to make upgrades to the offensive line.

If Trevor Lawrence isn't playing at an elite level by Year 6-7, you can then say he hasn't lived up to expectations. For the time being, let's put to rest the idea that Daniel Jones is somehow better than him.

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