JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Trevor Lawrence might have simply signed the most important contract in franchise historical past — which incorporates the third-largest quantity of totally assured cash in NFL historical past — however he mentioned that does not imply he is feeling any added stress.
His job remains to be the identical because it was the second the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted him first total in 2021: Win a Tremendous Bowl.
“Enjoying quarterback on this league is stress anyhow,” Lawrence mentioned Thursday. “I suppose on the skin there’s going to be a much bigger expectation with the long-term deal and being the franchise quarterback and having the contract. It would change how different folks take a look at it. However for me, I feel I’ve form of carried that duty anyhow.
Locked in 🔒@Dream_Finders | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/HEZvIyp2pb
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) June 20, 2024
“Being a beginning quarterback on this league is an enormous duty and the crew goes as you go, and I do know that. So, I am not going so as to add any stress to myself simply based mostly on getting this contract. It would not actually change what I anticipate of myself and what the crew expects of me.”
It certain does change the checking account, although. Lawrence’s five-year extension, which begins in 2026 and features a $37.5 million signing bonus, can pay him $55 million yearly and ties Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow for the biggest common annual wage in NFL historical past. It contains $142 million totally assured, which is behind solely Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson ($230 million) and Burrow ($146.5 million).
Lawrence’s 2024 wage will probably be $1.055 million and he’ll earn $25.67 million in 2025 whereas taking part in on the fifth-year possibility earlier than the extension begins. The 2 sides had been negotiating for months and Lawrence had hoped for a deal earlier than coaching camp begins on July 24, they usually lastly reached an settlement on June 13.
“It does really feel good to have it executed,” Lawrence mentioned. “That was a aim that [the Jaguars] and myself and my crew needed to get executed is to have it completed by the point coaching camp got here round so we might simply put all the pieces in direction of this 12 months and on the brink of go carry a championship right here.”
Editor’s Picks
1 Associated
Lawrence additionally mentioned he likes the path the franchise is headed. The Jaguars drafted receiver Brian Thomas Jr. at No. 23 within the first spherical and signed receiver Gabe Davis and heart Mitch Morse in free company so as to add to an offense that features receiver Christian Kirk, working again Travis Etienne Jr., and tight finish Evan Engram. The Jaguars additionally signed defensive lineman Arik Armstead, cornerback Ronald Darby and security Darnell Savage so as to add to a protection 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 crew from a 27-0 deficit to a 31-30 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in a wild-card playoff recreation earlier than shedding to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in a divisional playoff.
Lawrence led the Jaguars to an 8-3 begin in 2023 however he battled a concussion and ankle and shoulder accidents over the ultimate six weeks of the season and the crew went 1-5 down the stretch and missed the playoffs.
Nevertheless, Lawrence additionally has 60 turnovers in his first three seasons, which incorporates an NFL-high 21 in 2023 (14 interceptions, seven misplaced fumbles). There are solely 11 quarterbacks who’ve made their debut since 1978 which have turned the ball over extra of their first three seasons, per the Elias Sports activities Bureau. That record contains three Corridor of Famers — Warren Moon (73, tied with Steve DeBerg for probably the most), Peyton Manning (64) and John Elway (61). It additionally contains Mark Sanchez and former Jaguar Blake Bortles (63 every).
Lawrence has 8,129 yards passing and 55 mixed passing and speeding touchdowns. Solely three different quarterbacks in that span have thrown for greater than 8,000 yards and have 55 mixed passing and speeding touchdowns, per ESPN Stats & Data analysis: the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes (9,433 yards and 72 TDs), Detroit Lions’ Jared Goff (9,013 and 72) and Buffalo Payments’ Josh Allen (8,589 and 86).
Lawrence is already fourth all-time in Jaguars historical past in passing yards (11,770) and passing touchdowns (58) and is 21-31 as a starter (together with playoffs). He is also simply the fourth of the Jaguars’ 17 first-round draft picks from 2007 to 2021 to signal an extension with the crew, becoming a member of defensive deal with Tyson Alualu (2010), Bortles (2014), and Allen (2019), who in April signed what on the time was the richest contract in franchise historical past ($141.25 million over 5 years with $88 million assured).