Pederson Addresses Eventual Lawrence Deal: 'We Know What the Future Holds'

In an interview with The Athletic, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson made it clear the team knows a megadeal is impending for Trevor Lawrence.

When it comes to the future of the Jacksonville Jaguars, no player is more important than quarterback Trevor Lawrence. 

More than just the face of the franchise, he is just a few seasons away from being the highest-paid player in Jaguars history -- a fact that head coach Doug Pederson is more than aware of. 

Lawrence, who is set to enter his third season as the Jaguars starting quarterback in 2023, will be first-eligible for a new contract during the 2024 season. And while a Lawrence extension may seem miles down the road, the Jaguars know that all exit signs are pointing to their eventual destination.

Situations such as Lamar Jackson's in Baltimore could help encourage the Jaguars to want a deal done with Lawrence before his fourth season is over. For now, it at least appears the Jaguars know conversations with Lawrence will start as his extension window opens. 

“We know what the future holds,” Pederson said in an interview with Jeff Howe of The Athletic.

“But it’s also been proven in the NFL that you can pay your quarterback and still keep a pretty good roster around your quarterback. It’s been done. We’ve got to be able to look at those models, too. I guess the beauty, too, is we’ve got the majority of our guys in long-term deals, so that will also help us when we get ready to redo Trevor in a year or so."

As things stand today, the last top draft selection at quarterback to receive a megadeal was Arizona's Kyler Murray, who signed a five-year $230.5 million deal with $160 million guaranteed last offseason. 

Before Lawrence gets paid, it figures that other passers like Jackson and potentially Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert will also receive new deals. For now, Lawrence and the Jaguars are obviously looking at 2023 first and foremost, but the stage at least appears to be set for the Jaguars and Lawrence to enter negations in the not-so-distant future. 

“I kind of let Trent and (director of roster management) Trip (MacCracken) handle that and all the powers that be over on that side of the equation," Pederson told The Athletic. 

"My job is to get our team ready right now with the guys we have. We’ll cross that bridge a year from now.”