Entering his fifth NFL season in 2025, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence finds himself at a pivotal point in his career. Despite immense potential and past success, one prominent national outlet believes he has significant ground to cover.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) recently released its list of 10 NFL players with the “most to prove” heading into the 2025 season, and Lawrence’s name stands out among them.
Why is a player once labeled a “generational prospect” and recently signed to a massive five-year, $275 million contract extension on such a list? PFF’s assessment points to his performance dip in 2024 and the need to consistently play at the elite level expected of one of the league’s highest-paid players.
Navigating a Challenging 2024 Season
According to PFF’s analysis, Lawrence’s 2024 campaign was his least productive since his rookie year. His PFF overall grade dropped significantly, placing him only 19th among NFL quarterbacks (76.8) after ranking in the top 15 in his second and third seasons.
This statistical dip coincided with challenging inconsistencies, turnovers, and, critically, injuries. The 2024 season marked the first time Lawrence missed significant playing time due to injury. He logged only 536 snaps, a sharp decline from the over 1,000 snaps in each of his prior seasons.
Specific injuries that hampered his 2024 season included a significant shoulder injury – an AC joint sprain in his non-throwing left shoulder that required surgery in December. He also suffered a concussion in a game against the Houston Texans following an illegal hit from linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair while sliding. The hit drew an ejection for Al-Shaair and sparked a brief on-field scuffle, highlighting the physical toll the season took on the young quarterback.
Before being placed on injured reserve due to these issues, Lawrence completed 60.6 percent of his passes for 2,045 yards with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 10 games.
The Pressure of Potential and Contract
Lawrence arrived in the NFL with sky-high expectations as the No. 1 overall pick. He has shown flashes of brilliance, most notably in 2022 when he earned Pro Bowl honors and led the Jaguars to an AFC South title and a dramatic playoff comeback victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
However, living up to the “generational” tag and the pressure that comes with a record-setting contract extension adds layers to PFF’s “most to prove” designation. While some players on such lists might be debated (like four-time Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby, also reportedly on PFF’s list for a statistical dip largely influenced by injury), for Lawrence, the combination of inconsistent play, injury concerns, and the recent contract elevates the scrutiny.
Looking Ahead to 2025
Despite the challenges of 2024, there’s optimism surrounding Lawrence heading into his fifth season. PFF itself also recently named him a bounce-back candidate, acknowledging his potential to rebound.
He enters 2025 under the guidance of new head coach Liam Coen and is expected to have promising young weapons at his disposal, potentially including exciting wide receivers like Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter, who could help revitalize the passing game.
Through his first four NFL seasons (60 games), Lawrence holds career stats of 63.3 percent completion, 13,815 passing yards, 69 touchdowns, and 46 interceptions.
While PFF ranks him as the 16th best quarterback heading into 2025, placing him in their Tier 3b (“solid starters, but they need more help”), the upcoming season offers Lawrence a clear opportunity. Rebounding from injuries, demonstrating consistent elite play, and leading the Jaguars back to contention will be key factors in proving he is the franchise quarterback the team and its fans believe him to be, fully justifying the massive investment made in his future.
