While Trevor Lawrence had played at a high level at several points in his NFL career, it wasn't until last year that the Jacksonville Jaguars watched him blossom into the franchise quarterback they envisioned when they drafted him first overall in 2021. And the best part? The former Clemson Tiger is poised to be even better in his second season under head coach Liam Coen.
After his impressive 2025, Lawrence has squashed the narrative that he isn't a viable quarterback, and his future in Duval is no longer in doubt. Instead, the conversation centers around just how he stacks up against his peers. An NFL analyst just took his best guess.
The Jaguars have a borderline star in Trevor Lawrence
Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports ranked all 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL. He placed Trevor Lawrence in Tier 2, the borderline stars, arguing that running back could be a question mark, but he'll tentatively have a better supporting cast.
"Lawrence endured quite a bit of turbulence in Jacksonville, including playing for three different head coaches," DeArdo wrote. "While he'll no longer have Travis Etienne Jr. by his side Lawrence will have some new pass catchers and an improved offensive line at his disposal."
Only five quarterbacks made the No. 1 tier: Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Matthew Stafford. Among the quarterbacks who were ranked with Lawrence were Drake Maye, Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert, Jordan Love, Brock Purdy, and Bo Nix.
The fact that Lawrence hasn't had continuity throughout his career most definitely hindered his development. It didn't help that his supporting cast had left a bit to be desired. But despite the roadblocks, No. 16 managed to hit his stride under Liam Coen.
You could make the case that Lawrence played for Doug Pederson for three seasons. But Pederson's scheme eventually became stagnant. By 2024, his right-hand man Press Taylor was overseeing the offense, something that ultimately led to their dismissal.
With Coen at the helm, Lawrence had to tweak his footwork and learn the most complex scheme in his career. And he had to do it while recovering from a shoulder injury. That led to his slow start to the season, but once he hit his stride, the Knoxville, Tennessee native played like a top-10 quarterback, completing over 60 percent of his throws for nearly 2,000 yards with 18 touchdowns and just four interceptions.
Without having to learn a new scheme or rehab any injuries, Lawrence was able to fully focus on taking the next step, so nobody would bat an eye if he puts up even better numbers next season.
Why the Jaguars need Trevor Lawrence to take the next step
Trevor Lawrence will have everything he needs to succeed next season. A head coach who knows how to get the most out of him, and a supporting cast that will take some of the burden off his shoulders. It will now be up to him to take advantage of it.
Lawrence has previously been discussed as a top-10 quarterback in his career, but never for a prolonged stretch. He now has everything going for him to change that and even move into the top echelon of NFL passers.
And that's the thing, as good as Trevor Lawrence looked in 2025, the Jaguars should most definitely expect more from him next season.
