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It looks like Trevor Lawrence is finally getting some respect from the national media.
After leading the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 13-4 record and AFC South division title in 2025, Lawrence finally looks like the player the Jaguars envisioned when they made him the top overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Lawrence was especially great over the second half of the season, leading Jacksonville to eight straight wins to end the regular season. His stellar play made him an MVP finalist for the first time in his career.
The rest of the country took notice.
Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports ranked every starting NFL quarterback for the 2026 season. Instead of ranking them in a 1-32 order, DeArdo placed each quarterback into a tier. There were six total tiers, ranging from Tier 1 (Transcendent Talents) to Tier 6 (Holdovers and Placeholders).
Lawrence finds himself squarely in Tier 2 (Borderline Stars).
The "Transcendent Stars" tier is full of the usual suspects.
The tier consists of reigning MVP Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams, followed by Patrick Mahomes from the Kansas City Chiefs, the Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen, and then two AFC North QBs: Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens and Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals.
It's hard to argue against any of those QBs being ranked above Lawrence. Stafford is an MVP and Super Bowl champion. Mahomes has been to five Super Bowls, winning three, and has a pair of MVP awards. Jackson is also a two-time MVP, while Allen has one. Burrow led the league in both passing yards and touchdowns in 2024 and has one Super Bowl appearance (losing to Stafford).
Lawrence finds himself in the Tier 2, labeled as "Borderline Stars." The tier has a total of 12 QBs, but Lawrence's finish to the 2025 season suggests he may have the most upside for upcoming campaign.
DeArdo mentions the rocky start to Lawrence's career and suggests the constant changing of head coaches as the possible culprit.
"Lawrence has endured quite a bit of turbulence in Jacksonville, including playing for three different head coaches. 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."
While Lawrence's tier is the most crowded of the bunch, Jacksonville's signal caller may have the most pure talent of the group.
It may have taken a little longer than expected, but Lawrence is finally showing the immense talent that made him the best quarterback prospect to come into the NFL since Andrew Luck in 2012.
Now that he finally reaching his potential, Lawrence has the talent, as well as the supporting cast, to lead Jacksonville to the franchise's first-ever Super Bowl.
Lawrence's 2026 season has the chance to be special, and cement him as a true superstar in the NFL.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
After leading the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 13-4 record and AFC South division title in 2025, Lawrence finally looks like the player the Jaguars envisioned when they made him the top overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Lawrence was especially great over the second half of the season, leading Jacksonville to eight straight wins to end the regular season. His stellar play made him an MVP finalist for the first time in his career.
The rest of the country took notice.
Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports ranked every starting NFL quarterback for the 2026 season. Instead of ranking them in a 1-32 order, DeArdo placed each quarterback into a tier. There were six total tiers, ranging from Tier 1 (Transcendent Talents) to Tier 6 (Holdovers and Placeholders).
Lawrence finds himself squarely in Tier 2 (Borderline Stars).
The Rankings
The "Transcendent Stars" tier is full of the usual suspects.
The tier consists of reigning MVP Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams, followed by Patrick Mahomes from the Kansas City Chiefs, the Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen, and then two AFC North QBs: Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens and Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals.
It's hard to argue against any of those QBs being ranked above Lawrence. Stafford is an MVP and Super Bowl champion. Mahomes has been to five Super Bowls, winning three, and has a pair of MVP awards. Jackson is also a two-time MVP, while Allen has one. Burrow led the league in both passing yards and touchdowns in 2024 and has one Super Bowl appearance (losing to Stafford).
Lawrence finds himself in the Tier 2, labeled as "Borderline Stars." The tier has a total of 12 QBs, but Lawrence's finish to the 2025 season suggests he may have the most upside for upcoming campaign.
DeArdo mentions the rocky start to Lawrence's career and suggests the constant changing of head coaches as the possible culprit.
"Lawrence has endured quite a bit of turbulence in Jacksonville, including playing for three different head coaches. 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."
While Lawrence's tier is the most crowded of the bunch, Jacksonville's signal caller may have the most pure talent of the group.
Final Thoughts
It may have taken a little longer than expected, but Lawrence is finally showing the immense talent that made him the best quarterback prospect to come into the NFL since Andrew Luck in 2012.
Now that he finally reaching his potential, Lawrence has the talent, as well as the supporting cast, to lead Jacksonville to the franchise's first-ever Super Bowl.
Lawrence's 2026 season has the chance to be special, and cement him as a true superstar in the NFL.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
