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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence landing on the elite tier watch isn't just offseason media hype—it’s the logical next step after the numbers he just put up.
Last season, Lawrence cleared the 4,000-yard passing mark, accounted for 38 total touchdowns, and finished fifth in the NFL MVP voting. He proved he has the ceiling; now, the 2026 season is about staying at that penthouse level from week 1 to week 18.
That is exactly why Lawrence is treating the 2026 campaign as his personal launchpad to reach MVP status. After piloting the Jaguars to a stellar 13-win season and an AFC South title during his first year in Liam Coen’s offense, the next logical milestone is using that foundation to unlock his true championship ceiling.
CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles believes Lawrence is the one to be on the lookout for in the elite quarterback circle. With that. Lawrence also becomes a serious Lombardi Trophy contender alongside other best in the business like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and more.
“Lawrence ascended as one of the NFL's very best down the stretch of last season, putting on a show with laser beams downfield and production with his legs, too. The flashes have always been there, and 2025 was the longest stretch of strong play he's ever produced. Cutting out mistakes is key as the Jaguars, who didn't do much this offseason, will look to Lawrence to be even better,” Pereles writes, placing Lawrence among the 17 QBs on the Super-Bowl contender list.
Lawrence struggled during the first half of last season as he adjusted to Liam Coen’s complex system, calling it "stressful mentally." But look at the splits: over his final seven games, he averaged 265 passing yards, 2.6 touchdowns per game, and posted a blistering 108.6 passer rating.
He recently noted on the O-Zone Podcast that his comfort level now is "astronomical" compared to last spring, allowing him to play significantly faster because he's diagnosing defenses instead of thinking about his own playbook.
Last year, the chemistry between Lawrence and BTJ was visibly off at times. Lawrence spent his summer publicly taking ownership of that, analyzing tape to figure out exactly how to drop deep balls into Thomas’s stride. Team reporters are already calling their connection in minicamp a night-and-day difference, making their vertical connection the x-factor for the 2026 offense.
Aside from Lawrence and Coen entering their second year together, the entire supporting cast is designed to bolster the Jaguars to navigate the Playoffs. With Jakobi Meyers, a breakout weapon in Parker Washington, and Travis Hunter working into specific packages, Lawrence has a versatile chessboard.
During mandatory minicamps and OTAs this month, both Coen and quarterbacks coach Spencer Whipple raved about Lawrence's "calm mind."
He spent the offseason executing deep in the weeds of defensive progressions, and team insiders noted he rarely put the ball in harm's way all spring. A hyper-efficient, mistake-free Lawrence paired with a 13-win roster is a team that can stand toe-to-toe with Kansas City or Buffalo in January.
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Last season, Lawrence cleared the 4,000-yard passing mark, accounted for 38 total touchdowns, and finished fifth in the NFL MVP voting. He proved he has the ceiling; now, the 2026 season is about staying at that penthouse level from week 1 to week 18.
That is exactly why Lawrence is treating the 2026 campaign as his personal launchpad to reach MVP status. After piloting the Jaguars to a stellar 13-win season and an AFC South title during his first year in Liam Coen’s offense, the next logical milestone is using that foundation to unlock his true championship ceiling.
Trevor Lawrence Placed on Contender QB List
CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles believes Lawrence is the one to be on the lookout for in the elite quarterback circle. With that. Lawrence also becomes a serious Lombardi Trophy contender alongside other best in the business like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and more.
“Lawrence ascended as one of the NFL's very best down the stretch of last season, putting on a show with laser beams downfield and production with his legs, too. The flashes have always been there, and 2025 was the longest stretch of strong play he's ever produced. Cutting out mistakes is key as the Jaguars, who didn't do much this offseason, will look to Lawrence to be even better,” Pereles writes, placing Lawrence among the 17 QBs on the Super-Bowl contender list.
Lawrence struggled during the first half of last season as he adjusted to Liam Coen’s complex system, calling it "stressful mentally." But look at the splits: over his final seven games, he averaged 265 passing yards, 2.6 touchdowns per game, and posted a blistering 108.6 passer rating.
He recently noted on the O-Zone Podcast that his comfort level now is "astronomical" compared to last spring, allowing him to play significantly faster because he's diagnosing defenses instead of thinking about his own playbook.
Last year, the chemistry between Lawrence and BTJ was visibly off at times. Lawrence spent his summer publicly taking ownership of that, analyzing tape to figure out exactly how to drop deep balls into Thomas’s stride. Team reporters are already calling their connection in minicamp a night-and-day difference, making their vertical connection the x-factor for the 2026 offense.
Aside from Lawrence and Coen entering their second year together, the entire supporting cast is designed to bolster the Jaguars to navigate the Playoffs. With Jakobi Meyers, a breakout weapon in Parker Washington, and Travis Hunter working into specific packages, Lawrence has a versatile chessboard.
During mandatory minicamps and OTAs this month, both Coen and quarterbacks coach Spencer Whipple raved about Lawrence's "calm mind."
He spent the offseason executing deep in the weeds of defensive progressions, and team insiders noted he rarely put the ball in harm's way all spring. A hyper-efficient, mistake-free Lawrence paired with a 13-win roster is a team that can stand toe-to-toe with Kansas City or Buffalo in January.
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...
