Arik Armstead Breaks Down Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars' Path Back to the Top

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nishant Gupta | Last updated Jun 22, 2025 3:36 PM ET

The Jacksonville Jaguars aim to bounce back from a disappointing 4-13 season in the 2025 NFL season. The franchise drafted Travis Hunter as the No. 2 overall pick in this year's NFL Draft.

However, the spotlight remains on the Jaguars' star quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, who will be entering his fifth season in the league. During an episode of the "First Things First" show, Jaugars defensive end Arik Armstead discussed Lawrence's role in the team's rise to the top.

The former San Francisco 49ers star was asked to draw the path for the franchise to climb back to where it belongs.

"It always starts in your division. Our division, I feel, is very winnable," Armstead said. "That's where it has to start. Dominating our division creates that path to get into the dance and make some noise in the playoffs."

The Jaguars' DE believes that leveraging Lawrence's abilities is the way to success.

"I like the direction that we're headed, moving towards having a really efficient offense. Mixing pass and run and utilizing Trevor's skill set to move the pocket and make throws down the field," he said.

Armstead also showed his satisfaction with the franchise's defensive stance, saying, "We have a lot of dogs on defense and we're mixing up coverages and we are playing fast up front. So, I'm really excited."

Lawrence's rookie season was a disaster as the franchise recorded a 3-14 record in the regular season. He bounced back the following season, leading the franchise to a 9-8 record and a postseason appearance.

The Jaguars defeated the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card Round but fell to Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce's Kansas City Chiefs. The Jaguars' QB earned his first and only Pro Bowl honor that season.

Lawrence and the Jaguars piled up another 9-8 record in the 2023 season but missed out on the playoffs. The last season might have felt like a nightmare for the fans, and they would hope for their quarterback to change the tide.

The Jaguars added the likes of Eric Murray, Patrick Mekari and Robert Hainsey as a part of their rebuild. The management wants to provide Lawrence with a talented corps to lead the franchise into a deeper postseason run.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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