Lawrence: Big deal doesn’t change expectations

Michael DiRocco, ESPN Staff WriterJun 20, 2024, 12:38 PM ET
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Trevor Lawrence may have just signed the biggest contract in franchise history — which includes the third-largest amount of fully guaranteed money in NFL history — but he said that doesn’t mean he’s feeling any added pressure.

His job is still the same as it was the moment the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted him first overall in 2021: Win a Super Bowl.

“Playing quarterback in this league is pressure anyways,” Lawrence said Thursday. “I guess on the outside there’s going to be a bigger expectation with the long-term deal and being the franchise quarterback and having the contract. It might change how other people look at it. But for me, I think I’ve kind of carried that responsibility anyways.

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“Being a starting quarterback in this league is a big responsibility and the team goes as you go, and I know that. So, I’m not going to add any pressure to myself just based on getting this contract. It doesn’t really change what I expect of myself and what the team expects of me.”

It sure does change the bank account, though. Lawrence’s five-year extension, which starts in 2026 and includes a $37.5 million signing bonus, will pay him $55 million annually and ties Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow for the largest average annual salary in NFL history. It includes $142 million fully guaranteed, which is behind only Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson ($230 million) and Burrow ($146.5 million).

Lawrence’s 2024 salary will be $1.055 million and he’ll earn $25.67 million in 2025 while playing on the fifth-year option before the extension begins. The two sides had been negotiating for months and Lawrence had hoped for a deal before training camp begins on July 24, and they finally reached an agreement on June 13.

“It does feel good to have it done,” Lawrence said. “That was a goal that [the Jaguars] and myself and my team wanted to get done is to have it finished by the time training camp came around so we could just put everything towards this year and getting ready to go bring a championship here.”

Lawrence also said he likes the direction the franchise is headed. The Jaguars drafted receiver Brian Thomas Jr. at No. 23 in the first round and signed receiver Gabe Davis and center Mitch Morse in free agency to add to an offense that includes receiver Christian Kirk, running back Travis Etienne Jr., and tight end Evan Engram. The Jaguars also signed defensive lineman Arik Armstead, cornerback Ronald Darby and safety Darnell Savage to add to a defense that already included pass-rushers Josh Allen and Travon Walker and linebacker Foye Oluokun.

Lawrence led the Jaguars to the AFC South title in 2022 and rallied the team from a 27-0 deficit to a 31-30 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in a wild-card playoff game before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in a divisional playoff.

Lawrence led the Jaguars to an 8-3 start in 2023 but he battled a concussion and ankle and shoulder injuries over the final six weeks of the season and the team went 1-5 down the stretch and missed the playoffs.

However, Lawrence also has 60 turnovers in his first three seasons, which includes an NFL-high 21 in 2023 (14 interceptions, seven lost fumbles). There are only 11 quarterbacks who have made their debut since 1978 that have turned the ball over more in their first three seasons, per the Elias Sports Bureau. That list includes three Hall of Famers — Warren Moon (73, tied with Steve DeBerg for the most), Peyton Manning (64) and John Elway (61). It also includes Mark Sanchez and former Jaguar Blake Bortles (63 each).

Lawrence has 8,129 yards passing and 55 combined passing and rushing touchdowns. Only three other quarterbacks in that span have thrown for more than 8,000 yards and have 55 combined passing and rushing touchdowns, per ESPN Stats & Information research: the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes (9,433 yards and 72 TDs), Detroit Lions‘ Jared Goff (9,013 and 72) and Buffalo Bills‘ Josh Allen (8,589 and 86).

Lawrence is already fourth all-time in Jaguars history in passing yards (11,770) and passing touchdowns (58) and is 21-31 as a starter (including playoffs). He also is just the fourth of the Jaguars’ 17 first-round draft picks from 2007 to 2021 to sign an extension with the team, joining defensive tackle Tyson Alualu (2010), Bortles (2014), and Allen (2019), who in April signed what at the time was the richest contract in franchise history ($141.25 million over five years with $88 million guaranteed).