In September 2021, Trevor Lawrence became just the fourth quarterback ever, and the second since Ryan Fitzpatrick in 2005, to throw for over 300 yards and 3 touchdowns in his NFL debut.
However, the first overall pick also threw 3 interceptions, and the Jaguars lost to the Texans, 37-21.
The following week, Lawrence struggled, passing for only 118 yards and 1 touchdown, along with 2 interceptions — including a costly red-zone turnover — in a 23-13 defeat to the Broncos.
.@jsimms1119 will take that. 👐
📺: ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/xO9fHB9PD1
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 30, 2022
After the game, Urban Meyer told Vic Fangio at midfield, “Every week it feels like playing Alabama in the NFL.”
That sentiment likely resonated with Trevor Lawrence, who ended his rookie season with a league-high 17 interceptions and a 3-14 record, the worst in the league. Standing at six feet six inches, Lawrence had never faced such a significant talent disparity, leading to clear growing pains as he adjusted.
Now, Lawrence faces even more pressure. He signed a new contract this offseason, making him one of the highest-paid athletes in the league and cementing his role as the franchise’s face. With a $275 million deal, his record stands at 20-30 as a starter, a 58:60 touchdown-to-turnover ratio, and just one career playoff win after three seasons.
Despite this, those who have closely followed his career would argue that his performance doesn’t fully reflect his talent, largely due to the issues Meyer highlighted.
Lawrence himself acknowledges that he hasn’t played his best. Reflecting in January after Jacksonville missed the playoffs, he said, “When you don’t turn the ball over, you win more games. I need to own my part and take better care of the ball. There are other areas I need to improve as well, not just turnovers. Overall, I need to be more consistent.”
After a recent training camp practice, Lawrence discussed his progress further. “I believe I’ve improved every year. There are times when it doesn’t seem that way, and bad plays will happen, but I know I’ve gotten better overall. I’m working on areas where I need improvement, like understanding the system and making smart decisions. Staying on schedule has been a significant improvement, especially last year. I’ve learned to make early, easy completions and handle various situations better, though there’s still room for improvement.”
Lawrence has evolved from his debut performance with three touchdowns and three interceptions. He started his career as an aggressive player, always aiming for the big play, but has since learned the value of patience. Despite some struggles with the Jaguars’ offense last season, they ranked seventh in dropback success rate, showing that Lawrence was generally effective in staying on schedule.
Nevertheless, knowing when to take risks is crucial. As Lawrence put it, “Staying on schedule is important, but you also need to be aggressive. You can’t lose that killer instinct.”
This is a lesson mastered by legends like Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, who have achieved great success by balancing aggression with strategic play.
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