Trevor Lawrence Signed a $275 Million Contract, And Now Experts Are Saying This About Him originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The "generational prospect" label has followed Trevor Lawrence since he left Clemson, a golden ticket that made him the No. 1 overall pick and eventually one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL. But heading into his fifth season, the shine has met the grind, and the narrative has shifted.
A year after the Jacksonville Jaguars handed him a staggering five-year, $275 million contract extension, Lawrence finds himself at a career crossroads. According to Pro Football Focus, he is one of the top 10 players in the league with the "most to prove" in the upcoming 2025 season.
The designation comes after a 2024 campaign that was a significant step back. After battling through inconsistent play and turnovers, Lawrence's season was cut short after 10 games by a shoulder injury and concussion that required surgery. In that abbreviated season, he posted a career-low 60.6% completion rate, throwing for just 2,045 yards with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
"Lawrence is coming off his worst season since his rookie campaign," wrote PFF's Zoltán Buday. "He ranked in the top 15 among NFL quarterbacks in PFF overall grade in his second and third seasons in the league but placed only 19th in 2024 (76.8)."
Buday notes that the massive contract, signed before the disappointing season, "simultaneously put him under pressure to play at a higher level."
It's a stark contrast to the trajectory Lawrence appeared to be on in 2022, when he earned Pro Bowl honors while leading the Jaguars to an improbable AFC South crown and a historic 27-point comeback victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in the playoffs. That flash of brilliance is the standard he's now being paid to consistently replicate.
For the first time in his career, durability also became a concern. After logging over 1,000 snaps in each of his first three seasons, he was limited to just 536 last year.
However, the Jaguars' front office has not left him without help. Under the guidance of first-year head coach Liam Coen, Lawrence will have an arsenal of dynamic playmakers, including what PFF calls "one of the most exciting young wide receiver duos in the NFL" in Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter.
The pieces are in place for a rebound. PFF itself has pegged Lawrence as a prime "bounce-back candidate" for 2025. Yet, they also ranked him as the No. 16 quarterback, placing him in "Tier 3b," which they describe as "solid starters, but they need more help."
The message is clear. With the contract secured and new weapons at his disposal, the time for excuses is over. The 2025 season will be the ultimate test of whether Lawrence can shed the label of a quarterback with "most to prove" and firmly establish himself among the league's elite.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
