Doug Pederson Explains How Trevor Lawrence's Future Contract Impacts Team Building

Trevor Lawrence will get paid the largest contract in Jaguars history sooner than later, something the Jaguars are already accounting for today.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a few years until they have to open up their checkbooks for Trevor Lawrence, but that doesn't mean his future deal isn't impacting how things are done today. 

The Jaguars have two more years of Lawrence's cheap rookie deal before he is eligible for his fifth-year option; at the conclusion of the 2023 season, Lawrence will be eligible for a new deal, a deal that will surely make him the highest-paid Jaguar in franchise history. 

"Quarterback salaries aren't getting lower, you know, they're getting higher. And rightfully so, because if you play well, you're gonna get paid. I mean, that's just the way our business is," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said this week at the owners meetings in Phoenix. 

"And, you know, Trevor continues on that path that he's on and has a good year this year, you know, it's evident that that's probably, you know, probably coming. But also, you got to look at the whole team, you know, and you got to make decisions based on all of that."

The 2023 offseason proved Pederson's point, with Derek Carr signing for the most guaranteed money of any free agent ($100 million), while Jimmy Garoppolo signed a three-year, $72.75 million deal with $45 million guaranteed despite years of injuries and the 49ers even trying to replace him. 

Add in Daniel Jones' four-year, $160 million deal with $92 million guaranteed despite throwing just 36 touchdown passes over the last three years -- an average of 12 a year -- and it is clear Lawrence is set to get paid in a big, big way. 

In 17 starts in 2022, Lawrence completed 387 of 584 passes for 4,113 yards and 25 TDs. His 387 completions were the most in a single season in franchise history and his five rushing TDs were tied with Garrard for the most in single-season franchise history.

Lawrence joined Bengals QB Joe Burrow and Bills QB Josh Allen as the only players in the NFL with 25-plus passing TDs and at least five rushing TDs. Against the Titans in Week 14, Lawrence set a career-high with 368 yards passing and was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance.

The second-year quarterback totaled four 300-yard passing games and orchestrated three comebacks of 17-plus points, including a comeback from behind 27-0 in the postseason against the Chargers. 

As things stand today, the last top draft selection at quarterback to receive a megadeal was Arizona's Kyler Murray, who signed a five-year $230.5 million deal with $160 million guaranteed last offseason.

Before Lawrence gets paid, it figures that other passers like Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts and potentially Burrow and Justin Herbert will also receive new deals. 

For now, the Jaguars are going to take advantage of Lawrence's rookie deal the best they can. But no matter what, they know eventually the bill for elite quarterback play is going to come.

"It helps, you know, it helps to have a young, talented quarterback that is the franchise guy still on a rookie deal. So you can, you know, sign your own free agents, sign other free agents, you know, and make decisions now on your roster that hopefully can set you up," Pederson said. 

"Because one day you're gonna have to pay the quarterback and, you know, you're gonna have to use resources there to get him signed. But that's probably going to take away from something else on your team. But now's the time to, I think with any organization, now's the time to you know, make those decisions, try to get those guys locked up long-term so you don't have to worry about it in a year."