Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence makes the top 10 in Power Rankings heading into Week 1

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence will help the Jacksonville Jaguars for years to come. Heading into Year 3, the former Clemson Tiger is expected to play at a high level and even join the MVP conversation. But how does he stack up against his peers? Based on the latest rankings, pretty well.

Throughout the year, you'll see weekly power rankings for quarterbacks and Lawrence earned a favorable spot in most of them. Steve Ruiz of the Ringer placed him at No. 7 and Nick Shook of NFL Media did the same.

Meanwhile, Derrick Klassen of The 33rd Team gave him the sixth spot in his ranking. Here's what he had to say about Steeze Trev, which pretty much encapsulates his place in the hierarchy heading into the 2023 season.

"Two years in, Trevor Lawrence is already knocking at the door of the top five quarterbacks. Lawrence could stand to take the easy play more often and cut out one or two random sprays per game, but otherwise, he’s got every trait an elite quarterback needs. "

Klasses goes on to say that Lawrence's secret weapon is "his pocket presence", noting that not many quarterbacks possess the ability to navigate the pocket like him.

Lawrence, the top pick in the 2021 draft, struggled as in his first NFL season. Just recently, he was asked what a successful rookie year looked like and he jokingly said that he wasn't the right person to answer that question. He's right though, but that wasn't necessarily his fault. Urban Meyer had no idea what he was doing and didn't agree with his staff on what the best way to develop him was. To complicate matters, the Jags failed to surround their young passer with enough talent.

Realizing they needed to help Lawrence, the Jaguars hired Doug Pederson as their head coach and revamped his supporting cast, signing players such as wide receiver Christian Kirk, tight end Evan Engram, and right guard Brandon Scherff. The changes paid off right off the bat, and the former Clemson Tiger showed significant improvement in his sophomore campaign.

Now, Lawrence is positioning himself to join the upper echelon of quarterbacks, one that includes the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, and Josh Allen. Nearly all of them will appear ahead of Lawrence in power rankings.

Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence is getting widespread recognition around the league

It's not hyperbole to say Trevor Lawrence is the main reason the Jaguars are one of the hottest teams in the NFL right now. Doug Pederson has certainly helped by installing a winning culture. In the same manner, general manager Trent Baalke deserves credit for revamping the roster. That said, there's only so much Pederson can do as a coach, he'll need playmakers if he wants to put the team in a position to succeed. On the other hand, drafting and signing players is just half of the equation. The other is delivering on the football field.

Having said that, both Pederson and Lawrence have done their part to maximize Lawrence's talent. That in turn has made the Jags relevant heading into the 2023 season, and one of the biggest storylines surrounding the quarterback is his ascension into an elite level.

Make no mistake, Lawrence was labeled a generational talent since he was in high school and he was already projected to be a top draft pick early in his playing days at Clemson. It was just a matter of time before he showed he's indeed "the real deal". He's close.

The Jaguars will take on the Indianapolis Colts in the 2023 season opener. Expect Trevor Lawrence to come through and take another step toward the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks.

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