Over the last two years, it seems like gigantic contracts have been handed out to star players across the NFL on a weekly basis.
There are several players who have been due for big extensions this offseason, and on Thursday, the Jacksonville Jaguars gave quarterback Trevor Lawrence a five-year extension that will reportedly pay him $275 million.
Adam Schefter pointed out that Lawrence will now become the highest-paid QB in the NFL on an annual basis along with the Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow.
Highest paid QBs in the NFL on a per-year basis:
🏈Trevor Lawrence: $55 million.
🏈Joe Burrow: $55M
🏈Jared Goff: $53M
🏈Justin Herbert: $52.5M
🏈Lamar Jackson: $52M
🏈Jalen Hurts: $51M https://t.co/0DMg4K6Tse— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 13, 2024
When Burrow got his five-year, $275 million extension last year, it was the richest contract in league history in terms of annual salary.
The market for both quarterbacks and wide receivers has gone through the roof over the last two years, and one has to wonder how much more upward pressure there will be on salaries for star players at both positions in the immediate future.
Lawrence started to look like an absolute stud when he played outstanding football down the stretch of the 2022 season, his second in the NFL, and led the Jaguars to the divisional round of the playoffs.
Last season, however, his numbers somewhat dipped.
He went from throwing for 4,113 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2022 to 4,016 passing yards and 21 passing touchdowns in 2023 while also throwing 14 interceptions compared to eight in 2022.
While Calvin Ridley, Jacksonville’s most productive wide receiver last year, left in free agency this offseason, they brought in Gabriel Davis from the Buffalo Bills to try to replace at least some of his production.
Lawrence will have to raise his game in order to get the Jaguars back to the playoffs, especially in an improved AFC South.
