NFL Rumors: Jaguars 'All In' on Trevor Lawrence's Contract Despite Mac Jones Trade

The Jacksonville Jaguars reportedly remain "all in" on Trevor Lawrence despite an up-and-down third season from the franchise quarterback.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the Jaguars are committed to inking Lawrence to a long-term contract extension.

"I'm told that talks have been progressing fairly nicely, that certainly there's a hope among both sides that they can get this done," Fowler reported Sunday on SportsCenter. "He's three years into his rookie deal so not urgent to have to get it done right this moment but Jacksonville, I'm told, is pretty committed to trying to get this done. This will also be a deal probably above that $50 million range but they are all in on Lawrence, they've been talking."

Lawrence threw for 4,016 yards and 21 touchdowns against 14 interceptions in 2023. His interception rate nearly doubled, going from 1.4 percent to 2.5 percent, which was just 0.3 percent lower than his nightmare rookie season.

It's fair to have concerns about Lawrence's viability as a true franchise quarterback as he heads into his fourth NFL season. Most wrote off his rookie season as being caused by circumstance; Urban Meyer never fit as an NFL head coach, and Lawrence was left on an island with a weak supporting cast.

That said, the fact Lawrence regressed in 2023 rather than ascended to superstar status is alarming. We have one bad season, one good and one perfectly average three years into Lawrence's career.

The overall sample would suggest Lawrence is closer to a slightly above-average NFL starter than a superstar. That's not typically the type of player teams want to invest $50 million into, but Lawrence is 24 years old and plays arguably the most premium position in all of sports.

The Jaguars' acquisition of Mac Jones this offseason should have no bearing on Lawrence's status, as it was a low-cost add for a backup. Jones has been one of the NFL's worst quarterbacks the last two seasons and has almost no chance of unseating Lawrence.