Jags QB Lawrence finally hitting lofty heights expected from No 1 pick
When the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Trevor Lawrence with the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, they were looking for a franchise saviour.
Key points
- Trevor Lawrence, the No. 1 pick in 2021, is now playing at an MVP level under head coach Liam Coen.
- The Jaguars have won 17 of their last 22 regular-season games, tied for the NFL's best record.
- Lawrence's improved efficiency and a stronger supporting cast have made Jacksonville a Super Bowl contender.
Trevor Lawrence, the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, is finally meeting the high expectations that followed him to the Jacksonville Jaguars. After early struggles, Lawrence has developed into an MVP candidate and has the Jaguars off to a 4-1 start this season.
The Jaguars have won 17 of their last 22 regular-season games, tied for the best record in the NFL over that span. Lawrence's rise has been fueled by the arrival of head coach Liam Coen, who was hired in January 2025 after serving as an offensive coordinator with Tampa Bay.
What the numbers show
Last season, Lawrence finished sixth in passing yards (4,007) and fifth in touchdowns (29), but ranked 28th in completion percentage (60.9), 20th in passer rating (91.0) and 16th in yards per attempt (7.2). This season, through five games, he is fourth in passer rating (106.3), eighth in completion percentage (67.1) and fifth in yards per attempt (8.2), with 1,174 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Jacksonville's defense has also improved under Coen and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile. Since Coen took over, the Jaguars have allowed 18.5 points per game, behind only Seattle and Minnesota. This year, that figure is 14.0, with only the Vikings (12.8) better.
He knows where his feet should be, where his eyes should look and where his team-mates will be at any given time.
— Sky Sports
Supporting cast and next game
Lawrence has not had an elite No. 1 receiver for most of his career, but Parker Washington has emerged as a reliable target. According to ESPN, since Week 11 of last season, Washington has 17 catches for a league-best 381 yards on third and fourth downs. This season, Washington leads the team with 22 catches, 352 yards and four touchdowns.
The Jaguars continue their London visit on Sunday against the Houston Texans at Wembley. Houston started 0-4 but won last week and needs a victory to keep its season alive. The game is one of four divisional matchups for Jacksonville in its next six games.
