No More Excuses for Trevor Lawrence

On night one of the 2025 NFL Draft, it was no surprise that Colorado star Travis Hunter went second overall. The Heisman Trophy winner is a rare breed, with his ability to play both sides of the ball at an extremely high level, being one of the better wide receivers and cornerbacks in college football over the last two years.

With those credentials and as stated before, it was not a shock that Hunter's name was the second one called by Roger Goodell on Thursday night; however, the surprising part was which team Hunter would be starting his professional career with. After making a blockbuster move, the Jacksonville Jaguars traded multiple draft picks to the Cleveland Browns, including a first-round pick in next year's draft, which allowed Jacksonville to move up from the number five pick to the second pick to select Hunter.

The trade that allowed the Jaguars to draft Hunter has not been the only bold move by Jacksonville this offseason. Over the last few months, the Jaguars have totally rebuilt their front office and coaching staff in an unconventional way by hiring a new head coach and general manager in Liam Cohen and James Gladstone, who are both under forty years old. The two of them are expected to bring new life to this Jaguars organization, and both of them have the same mission in mind: win football games, and in Cohen's case, fix the two-hundred-million-dollar quarterback, Trevor Lawrence.

Ever since going first overall in 2021, Lawrence came into the NFL being tabbed as the league's next generational talent, and I think it is fair to say thus far, his career has been quite the disappointment. Lawrence has only made the postseason once, has never won double-digit games in a regular season, and has a career record of 22-38. At least to me, that is probably not living up to the hype.

Of course, that is not all on him, as this Jaguars organization has been one of the more dysfunctional ones in the NFL, but they have sneakily been able to put some talent around, especially in last year's first round by taking Brian Thomas Jr., who is already one of the best wide receivers in football. Now with Hunter, who was also one of the best wideouts in college last season when he wasn't locking up people as a corner, Lawrence could have one of the best wide-receiving duos in the league if both Thomas Jr. and Hunter can develop into the type of players we expect.

Not to mention, Cohen, the Jaguars new coach, got this job because of how he was able to work with and get the best out of Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay last season, another former number one overall pick whose careers was in a crossroads. Cohen has a history of working well with quarterbacks which should help Lawrence bounce back in 2025.

With all this said, this season is a make or break year for Lawrence and the excuses should be out the window.

With two great outside weapons, a revamped coaching staff , and a front office that isn't scared of making bold moves, Lawrence now has everything every young quarterback dreams of.

Furthermore, it's not as though the Jaguars play in the most difficult division in the NFL. Even if it is getting better, the AFC South remains one of the more winnable division in the NFL. C.J. Stroud and the Texans should continue to grow, but even with Cam Ward, the Titans are a very flawed team and the Colts will either be starting Daniel Jones or Anthony Richardson at quarterback next year, who are both not exactly ideal for Indianapolis. There is no reason why Jacksonville shouldn't be a threat to win the division if Lawrence is that guy.

If Lawrence is truly the quarterback he was built up to be coming out of Clemson, this is the year he needs to prove it. The Jaguars need to be in the playoff conversation at the very least next season, and Lawrence needs to play like one of the top-ten quarterbacks in football to prove his worth. Because if he doesn't, this new regime in Jacksonville has no attachment to him; they didn't draft or extend him, they inherited him, meaning they have no obligations to him whatsoever and could have no problem willing to move off him.

What ever happens this year, the Jaguars should have an answer or idea on what they can expect out of Lawrence moving forward.