Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence may have had a rough end to his 2023 season, but general manager Trent Baalke says there’s no question about the passer’s future.
“As far as Trevor and his long-term relationship with this team, there’s no doubt in that,” Baalke said during a press conference Thursday. “We’re gonna get something done at the appropriate time.”
That “something” is a contract extension that will presumably make Lawrence the highest paid player in the NFL whenever it comes to fruition.
A massive deal for Lawrence once seemed like an inevitable piece of business that would get done during the 2024 offseason. As a player drafted in 2021, it wasn’t until earlier this month that negotiations on a new contract were allowed to begin.
But Lawrence saw his touchdown total shrink from 2022 to 2023 and he was credited with 12 fumbles and 14 interceptions. Maybe even more concerning was a string of injuries late in the season that contributed to the Jaguars’ season-ruining tailspin.
“We’ve got to better job of keeping him safe and protected, and he’s gotta do better job of protecting himself,” Baalke said. “Unfortunately, he had four key injuries this year. When your quarterback has a throwing shoulder injury, a knee injury, an ankle injury, and a concussion all in one year, that’s alarming.
“We’ve got to work to improve that. That’s not one factor, there’s a lot of things that contribute to that, but we have to do a better job there.”
While Baalke didn’t rule out a deal with Lawrence getting done this offseason, it also didn’t sound like he considers it to be a top priority. Finding a middle ground may be especially tough considering the current circumstances.
There’s little reason for Lawrence to accept a deal that’s less than the $55 million per year that Joe Burrow received from the Cincinnati Bengals last year. If the Jaguars aren’t willing to make him the highest paid player now, the price tag will only go up and the free agency market would undoubtedly yield a fortune for Lawrence.
But paying that price could be a tough pill for the Jaguars to swallow after he struggled with injuries and turnovers in 2023.
It’s no easy decision, but Baalke’s comments Thursday suggest a deal is still coming eventually, even if it’s not until 2025.
