Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence fails to crack top 10 in B/R's latest quarterback ranking

The 2023 season didn't go the way the Jacksonville Jaguars expected, failing to make the playoffs and winning the AFC South just one year after accomplishing both. One of the many reasons the Jags came up short was that Trevor Lawrence wasn't nearly as efficient as he was in 2022. Kristopher Knox took note of this when putting together his quarterback ranking and decided to leave Lawrence outside the top 10.

Knox didn't think Lawrence warranted a spot in his ranking because of his regression last year. That said, he did include him as an honorable mention, noting that he still has the talent to be a top passer in the league.

"This past season, though, Lawrence regressed. He tossed 14 interceptions in 16 games and failed to lead Jacksonville to a second consecutive playoff berth after an 8-3 record in late November made one seem inevitable. Lawrence has all the physical tools needed to be truly elite, but he needs to bounce back in a big way in 2024."

Justin Herbert, Tua Tagovailoa, and Jalen Hurts earned honorable mentions as well, while Jordan Love, C.J. Stroud, and Brock Purdy managed to get a spot in the top 10.

After a disastrous rookie season, Lawrence showed growth early in 2022. However, he also held the Jaguars back at times. It wasn't until the second half of the season that "the switch turned on" and he really hit his stride, completing 69.7 percent of his passes for 2,273 yards with 15 touchdown passes and just two interceptions.

Lawrence saved the best for the playoffs though, helping the Jags come back from a 27-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card Round.

Unfortunately, the Jags began crumbling when injuries exposed their dearth of depth. Without enough talent around him, the stud quarterback found himself having to overcompensate for the team's shortcomings, often with less-than-ideal results. In the end, Lawrence's touchdown tally went down and his interception totals went up. Following the end of the season, he acknowledged that he couldn't blame injuries on his performance and vowed to get better.

Trevor Lawrence gives the Jaguars a chance to win in 2024

Despite suffering a dip in production, Lawrence still played at a high level. It's just that the losses overshadow his performance. He routinely made throws that would've put the team in a position to score but his skill position players couldn't execute. He did make mistakes but not nearly enough to make you think he was a liability.

Granted, Steezy Trev must do a better job of holding onto the ball and cutting down on turnovers. Then again, the Jaguars must do their part and give him better production. It will go a long way toward ensuring he stays healthy, which wasn't the case last year. Also, the coaching staff needs to be more creative with the game calling, and find a way to establish the run, something they failed to do last season.

The truth is that Trevor Lawrence was still the same talented quarterback that led the Jacksonville Jaguars to the playoffs in 2022. It just wasn't reflected in the win column. If can work on his fumbling issues and the team fortifies the trenches, there's no reason to believe he can be a top-5 quarterback next season.

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