The quarterback position remains the most important in all of sports, giving teams with a franchise signal-caller a real belief in finding success. It’s not easy for teams to find but when they do, organizations tend to make sure they stick around for the long haul.
For the Jacksonville Jaguars, they found the guy to lead their franchise forward in the 2021 NFL Draft, when they selected quarterback Trevor Lawrence out of Clemson University.
TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 24: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Jacksonville Jaguars throws a pass during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December…
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
Lawrence has seen some ups and downs throughout his career so far, but he has been relatively what the team expected. But heading into 2024, the expectations have changed for the Jaguars and Lawrence personally.
The former Clemson Tiger just signed a massive extension to remain in Jacksonville, meaning that his game will need to elevate to make this deal worthwhile. The two sides agreed to a five-year deal that is worth $275 million, paying Lawrence $55 million annually starting in 2026. He opened up about why he decided to stay in Jacksonville long-term.
“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.”
If Lawrence can up his play this season, the Jaguars will have a good chance to win the Super Bowl. They are expected to be one of the better teams in the AFC once again, but Lawrence will determine how far they ultimately go. However, this new contract isn’t changing the way that Lawrence views his performance but rather just enhances what he already expected of himself.
“Being a starting quarterback in this league is a big responsibility and the team goes as you go, and I know that,” Lawrence said. “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.”
Last season, Lawrence threw for 4,016 yards with 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He will need to be a little more consistent going forward for the Jaguars to reach their full potential, but he has the talent. When he came out of Clemson, Lawrence was regarded as one of the better prospects in recent memory, adding more expectations to his NFL career. For Lawrence, all he can do is focus on his play and let the chips fall where they may around him.
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Source : Newsweek