Michael DiRocco, ESPN Staff Writer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is usually not an excessively effusive man. He would not give emotional pregame or locker room speeches. He would not yell at teammates or coaches on the sideline.
That's not how he leads. Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Pederson has persistently praised Lawrence for the way in which he stays stage, by no means getting too excessive or too low.
But when he stood on the podium following the Jaguars' 18-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 2, Lawrence was offended and discouraged by the underperforming offense. He shook his head and listed errors made by himself, the receivers, offensive line, backs and coaches. He talked about everybody having to be accountable for a second less-than-stellar offensive efficiency to begin the season.
“We suck right now,” he stated on the podium. “So, I'm pretty shocked.”
It was as visibly upset as anybody in Jacksonville has seen Lawrence in three-plus seasons.
“That's what you want from your leader,” Pederson stated final week. “I don't want anybody to sugarcoat anything.
“It might not be in his nature to do it, however you understand what? He's bought to do it.”
As the Jaguars (0-2) head to Buffalo to face the Bills (2-0) on “Monday Night Football” (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) the discourse surrounding whether Lawrence has lived up to the hype is growing following two underwhelming performances to start the season.
Lawrence was tagged with a “generational prospect” label by draft analysts coming out of Clemson in 2021, but he has struggled with inconsistent play and turnovers in his first three NFL seasons. He's played well enough to earn a $275 million contract extension that made him one of the top-paid QBs in the league this summer, but he hasn't lived up to top-QB status on the field.
His rookie season was overshadowed by then-coach Urban Meyer, who was fired after a 2-11 start. Lawrence and Pederson bounced back with a playoff berth in 2022, but the quarterback regressed as injuries flooded the team in 2023. Those struggles have persisted early on this season, but can Lawrence finally break out for good and take the Jaguars back to the playoffs?
As an NFC executive put it: “You need to fall in love with him someday and divorce him the subsequent.”
IN 2021, LAWRENCE was regarded by scouts, media analysts and fans as the best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck in 2012. His size (6-foot-6), arm talent and dominance while at Clemson (which included winning a national title as a freshman), made him the most-hyped quarterback entering draft day.
When the Jaguars drafted him first overall, the expectations were sky-high.
Lawrence's rookie season was a disaster under Meyer, whose questionable football decisions and mistreatment of players created a dysfunctional environment.
Lawrence threw 12 touchdown passes and had 22 turnovers (17 interceptions) in a 3-14 season. One NFL executive, who requested anonymity, called it a wasted year that knocked Lawrence's developmental timetable out of whack.
The Jaguars hired Pederson — who is known for being QB-friendly and won Super Bowl LII with Nick Foles and the Philadelphia Eagles — in 2022.
Lawrence's second season started off slow. In Weeks 1-8, he threw nine touchdowns to nine interceptions. It wasn't until Weeks 9-18 where he showed off top-QB potential — completing 69.7% of his passes (second in NFL) with 15 TDs and two interceptions.
And he had a number of elite moments in that timeframe, too.
Deleting a 17-0 first-half deficit to beat the Las Vegas Raiders 27-20. Overcoming a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Baltimore Ravens 28-27. Throwing three TD passes in 9 minutes to pressure additional time and beat the Dallas Cowboys after trailing by 17 factors within the third quarter.
And, lastly, the largest second of his profession: After throwing 4 interceptions within the first half of the wild-card recreation in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers, Lawrence threw 4 landing passes and the Jaguars received 31-30 on a last-second subject aim.
“I feel like he never gets flustered,” defensive lineman DeForest Buckner of the Jaguars' AFC South rival Indianapolis Colts stated. “Obviously from his rookie year until now, he's grown a lot. But I would really say he's poised throughout a game. We were all witness to it in that playoff game against the Chargers. … And that just shows the mental toughness … and just the short memory.”
In 2023, the Jaguars began 8-3. Lawrence had a 61.5 QBR (tenth within the NFL) and accomplished 67.3% of his passes with 12 landing passes and 7 interceptions. But he fell aside within the ultimate six weeks throwing 9 TD passes and 7 interceptions. He had a 44.8 QBR and the Jaguars went 0-5 in his begins.
Lawrence's tail off may be defined by accidents — he had a concussion as well as to his ankle and shoulder accidents — and his high two receivers, Christian Kirk and Zay Jones, and a number of offensive linemen additionally lacking video games.
“He clearly wasn't right last year,” an NFL personnel director stated earlier than the season. “He was pretty beat up and tried to play through it. I think his toughness and his ability to play through those issues and make it all about the team is commendable.”
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You have to look carefully to discover a time Lawrence has performed nicely for an prolonged stretch.
There was a interval — from Week 12 in 2022 to Week 12 in 2023 — when Lawrence was one of the most effective quarterbacks within the NFL. He ranked high 10 in completion share, yards per try, QBR and passing yards. He threw 24 landing passes to 9 interceptions. More importantly, the Jaguars have been 14-4 (the identical report as Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs). The solely workforce and QB with a greater report in that timeframe was Philadelphia and Jalen Hurts (15-1).
But all that highlights his largest concern: inconsistency. Part of that is turnovers. He has 60 in three seasons, greater than every other participant within the NFL.
“[He's] super confident, but the decision-making has to be better,” the NFC govt stated. “I think it comes down to the fact that he's been great his whole life. … Now he's realizing you can't do some of the things he has tried to get away with.
“I do consider he is a top-10 quarterback as soon as he figures all of that out. Maybe not the highest, high stage, however shut.”
Lawrence's 39 interceptions are third most in the league behind Josh Allen's 47 and Mahomes' 43 since he entered the league, but he has 59 TD passes (16th in the NFL) while Mahomes (109) and Allen (103) are the only two players in triple digits.
Lawrence additionally struggles with ball safety. He's misplaced 21 fumbles in 52 profession video games, by far essentially the most of any participant for the reason that 2021 season started — Detroit's Jared Goff is second with 14 — and already tied for essentially the most in franchise historical past with Mark Brunell, who did it in 120 video games.
Entering Monday, Lawrence has a three-game streak with out a fumble misplaced — two extra video games would tie the longest streak of his profession.
“I've kept two hands on the ball when I'm escaping, when I'm stepping up, when the pocket's muddy and I can see it and I know the issues,” Lawrence stated this week. “I feel like I've done a much better job.”
The Jaguars consider Lawrence will solidify his spot as a high QB within the league, which is why they gave the contract extension that included $200 million in ensures. It made him the highest-paid QB till Dak Prescott's deal surpassed that earlier this month.
Could the Jaguars have waited one other 12 months to do the deal? Of course, one other NFC personnel govt stated earlier than the season, however the worth would have solely elevated, particularly if Lawrence put the flashes of elite play collectively for a full season.
Two weeks into the 2024 season, and that hasn't occurred — but.
LAWRENCE HAS THROWN one landing go in two video games this season. It was to rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. in opposition to Miami within the season opener, and it was one of the most effective throws of his NFL profession.
Thomas was sandwiched between three Dolphins defenders and Lawrence let the ball go as he was being hit by linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah.
Lawrence positioned the ball within the again left nook of the top zone over cornerback Jalen Ramsey and security Jordan Poyer. Thomas used his attain to make the catch alongside the top line. It was an ideal throw the place solely Thomas might get the ball. Thomas was about 15-20 yards away from the place he'd finally catch it when Lawrence launched it.
It confirmed off Lawrence's skill to see the sector, anticipation, arm power and accuracy: all qualities of an elite quarterback.
Pederson stated over the offseason he expects Lawrence to have a bounce 12 months as he is extra comfy within the offense — which offensive coordinator Press Taylor believes virtually occurred final season earlier than Lawrence bought damage.
“The first half of the season, he was playing as good as anybody,” Taylor stated. “I don't know if he was getting credit for that outside the building. I have no clue. But we were very happy with how he was playing, how he was running the offense, managing games, winning games for us.”
There's no signal of a bounce taking place this season but. Lawrence's completion share (51%) ranks thirtieth, and he is final in completion share on third down (21.4%).
His play, in accordance to QBR (56.7), is barely above common (50). He has posted a QBR of lower than 60 in seven consecutive begins — all of which he has misplaced, the longest energetic streak within the league.
“Whether that's an injury thing, dealing with pressure up front, I don't know, but there isn't that consistency in how he sets and delivers. You want repeatable mechanics,” a former NFL head coach stated of Lawrence's performances. “Some of his completions I see are slightly out of frame when they shouldn't be … I know he's made efforts for that, but in my mind, he doesn't seem as sharp, on it all the time, right now.
“I feel it may be [that] he is urgent — loads.”
The offensive troubles haven't all been on Lawrence. Entering Sunday, the offensive line ranked 24th in pass block win rate. Lawrence's pressure rate (percentage of dropbacks where he was either sacked, under duress or hit) and sacks per dropback ranked 31st and last, respectively. And Lawrence's receivers have a league-high four drops.
“If you consider Trevor — and I do know the quarterback place will get loads of scrutiny — however there's loads of points that we've got … simply task errors that want to be fastened,” Pederson said. “Can he be higher? Yeah, he may be higher. I feel that is all half of simply persevering with to develop. … He's on observe.”
Lawrence has bounced back from rough starts before. Despite everything he's gone through — from Meyer to end zone interceptions against Houston and Denver in 2022 to the wild-card playoff comeback to his list of injuries in 2023 — his self-confidence has not waned.
“I do not actually care what folks take into consideration me,” Lawrence told ESPN. “I play for the folks round me. … But I additionally assume issues are earned on this league, and I might love to get to the purpose in my profession the place there is not any doubt in regards to the participant I'm.”
ESPN nationwide NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler contributed to this story.
