Jaguars' Doug Pederson compares Trevor Lawrence to Hall of Famers

Jacksonville Jaguars second-year head coach Doug Pederson believes quarterback Trevor Lawrence is about to follow in the footsteps of some all-time greats who featured at the position. 

"Guys look to the quarterback," Pederson recently told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated while speaking about Lawrence. "The quarterback is usually the face of the franchise. They look to him for that leadership and guidance. I want him to be more vocal with the football team overall. I want him to be more vocal with the offense overall. 

It’s O.K. to show your disappointment sometimes. It just demands from others to elevate their game. I saw it with Brett Favre; I saw it playing with Dan Marino. That’s where he can go. You see that with the Tom Bradys of the world, the Aaron Rodgerses...The great quarterbacks that have been able to elevate their football teams, Trevor’s on that very same path." 

Lawrence arguably was the most-hyped quarterback prospect to reach an NFL Draft class since Andrew Luck, and the product of the Clemson Tigers ultimately landed with the Jaguars as the top overall pick of the 2021 player-selection process. 

However, the 23-year-old largely failed to impress during a rookie season lowlighted by the firing of first-year coach Urban Meyer after just 13 games. As shared by ESPN stats, Lawrence finished his debut pro campaign tied with Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams for the most interceptions in the league (17). 

Under Pederson, Lawrence more resembled the signal-caller who became a superstar at Clemson. He ended last regular season ninth in the league with 4,113 passing yards and tied for eighth with 25 touchdowns through the air, he tossed only eight interceptions and he helped the Jaguars earn a playoff spot and a dramatic come-from-behind postseason win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Pederson noted in his chat with Breer how Lawrence "was pretty raw just [in] overall quarterback knowledge" and his "understanding of the game" coming off the 2021 season. That's no longer the case, and Pederson now thinks Lawrence can become the "generational talent" so many predicted he'd be only a few years ago. 

"We feel that," Pederson explained. "Now we’re starting to see that. That’s the part that’s starting to take shape. And there’s more to pour into him and more that he can learn." 

The Jaguars open the upcoming season at the Indianapolis Colts this coming Sunday.