Jaguars OLB Travon Walker has a banner year and other bold predictions for 2024

Trevor Lawrence will once again be top QB in the AFC South in 2024

After an underwhelming end to 2023, Trevor Lawrence has gotten plenty of flak. Former NFL general manager Randy Mueller doesn't think he's done enough to warrant a top-market contract. On the other hand, analyst Greg Cosell doesn't think the former Clemson Tiger is a franchise quarterback, calling him a top game manager.

Cosell and Mueller took a deep dive at Lawrence's tape from last year. Both believe he needs to work on his mechanics and there are a few issues he must overcome. However, neither took into account that the star quarterback was playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league. Compounding the issue was that the offense was one-dimensional because the coaching staff abandoned the run.

Mueller did took into account that Lawrence was playing hurt, but it feels like his and Cosell's analysis was incomplete. Either way, Trevor Lawrence is poised to bounce back next season. Head coach Doug Pederson, for one, said during OTAs that his franchise quarterback has improved, noting that his release and decision-making, accuracy, and timing were much better.

The Jaguars, for their part, gave Lawrence a pair of new weapons in Gabe Davis and Brian Thomas Jr. Add the fact that the offensive line is in much better shape than it was one year ago after adding veteran center Mitch Morse, and Steezy Trev should have no trouble proving his doubters wrong.

It's true that C.J. Stroud is the talk of the town and rightly so. He had an outstanding rookie season, completing 63.9 percent of his passes for 4,108 yards with 23 touchdowns and five interceptions. Also, four-time Pro Bowl nod Stefon Diggs joined his arsenal of weapons. However, the NFL now has enough film of the sophomore quarterback and will know how to defend him best. The Jaguars already beat him, although they lost once to him last year.

Also in the discussion for the top signal-caller in the AFC South will be Will Levis and Anthony Richardson. Both will make strides in 2024 but they have a longer way to go than Lawrence and Stroud. Levis isn't as polished as his division counterparts and Richardson has to catch up after missing most of his first NFL season.

This leaves Lawrence in a great position to remind everyone that he's the best quarterback in the division.

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