Trevor Lawrence may be open to going the Tom Brady route in contract talks

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is eligible for a new contract. The Jacksonville Jaguars have previously stated that giving him an extension is a priority but it's currently uncertain, at least from an outside perspective, when they'll get a deal done. That said, Mia O'Brian of 1010 XL recently shared an update on where negotiations currently stand.

O'Brien says that Lawrence's camp met with the Jaguars to discuss the parameters of a potential deal. She says that he's willing to take a discount like Tom Brady did for the New England Patriots but would want certain things in return.

"I don't but that's why when I heard about this meeting that his representation had with the Khan family, which a lot of this was about setting up a framework for what the deal eventually will look like for his long-term extension," O'Brian said when she was asked if Lawrence was an edict issuer. "Hearing that there were specific mentions of I can be Tom Brady and take less money but I need X, Y, and Z, that's also negotiating."

"I'm very curious to see how that translates into the field. No. 1, when the Jaguars offseason workouts, two weeks from today. Also, when they do take the field in training camp. Is he different? Because we've heard now for three years that he's the same guy. I've interacted with him enough. I saw him two weeks ago, he's the same guy but does he have to turn it up just a little notch to reach that competitive crazy? That type A micro-manager to actually succeed in the NFL," O'Brien said.

Throughout his NFL career, Tom Brady routinely took friendly deals to ensure the Patriots put the best possible team around him. That's what O'Brien is referring to when she says Lawrence could be Brady.

Lawrence is coming off a somewhat underwhelming season. Expected to join the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks in 2023, he dealt with injuries and lost 12 fumbles. Some of his less-than-ideal play was the result of playing behind a porous offensive line and injuries to his skill position players.

Without an optimal supporting cast, Lawrence felt pressed to take the team on his shoulders, sometimes with not-so-great results. On the other hand, the star quarterback consistently put the Jags in a position to win games and it's fair to assume that the outcome of the 2023 season would've been different if he had gotten a bit of help. Here are O'Brian's comments about the contract talks and what should be expected from Lawrence in 2024.

Trevor Lawrence may be incentivized to give the Jaguars a discount

Trevor Lawrence will get paid no matter what, the question is whether he'll take a discount. Given that the demand outweighs the supply, quarterbacks usually command a premium in contract talks. Last year, Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson got top-market deals from their respective teams.

After the 2022 season, Lawrence was one of the hottest quarterbacks. Based on trends at the position, he was expected to get at least $55 million per year. That's Burrow's annual average, and the longer the Jaguars wait to give Lawrence an extension, the more they'll have to fork in. Having said that, it's not surprising to hear that Lawrence may not be interested in getting a record-setting contract.

After all, Lawrence is a fierce competitor as they come but he doesn't come across as the kind of player that wants to break the bank. On the other hand, he knows that if he takes up a good chunk of cap space, the team's brass won't be able to spend nearly as much on other position groups, which will prevent them from consistently surrounding him with talent.

Circling back to Mia O'Brien's comments, Lawrence also needs to do his part. He needs to take a bit fewer risks and do a better job of holding onto the ball. With coaching and an improved supporting cast, he should have no trouble doing it.

The bottom line is that all eyes are going to be in Trevor Lawrence of and off the field in 2024. While he bounce back and take the Jaguars to playoffs? What kind of contract will he get? Those will be two of the biggest plotlines surrounding the Jaguars in 2024.

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