Trevor Lawrence, the quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars, has agreed to a five-year contract extension worth $275 million with $200 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports. The deal makes Lawrence one of the highest-paid players in NFL history.
Lawrence was drafted first overall by the Jaguars in 2021 and has shown promise during his time with the team. He finished his rookie season as a starter, but battled an ankle injury for several weeks last year. Despite this, he had the best season of his young career in 2022, leading the Jaguars to the AFC South title and earning a Pro Bowl nod.
The extension comes after Lawrence expressed confidence that his contract negotiations would take care of themselves. He previously stated that he wanted to focus on becoming the best quarterback he could be rather than worrying about his contract.
Lawrence's deal surpasses the previous record for highest average annual value (AAV) in NFL history, which was held by Joe Burrow at $50.1 million per year. Lawrence will now have an AAV of $55 million per year, making him the highest-paid quarterback in the league.
The Jaguars' decision to extend Lawrence's contract comes after a disappointing 2023 season, during which they missed the playoffs despite leading the AFC South for much of the year. The team has made several moves this offseason to improve their roster, including re-signing left guard Ezra Cleveland and adding veteran center Mitch Morse in free agency.
Despite his young age and injury history, Lawrence has already made a significant impact on the Jaguars franchise. He is fourth on their all-time passing yards list (11,770) and fourth in franchise history for touchdown passes (58).