Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence calls shot after contract extension

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence isn't lacking confidence following the club's second-half collapse in 2023 and after he put pen to paper on a massive contract extension this offseason.

"The best days are definitely ahead of us," Lawrence said about the Jaguars during a Thursday appearance on NFL Network's "The Insiders" program, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "Speaking individually as well, in my game I think I’m far from playing my best football, and that’s ahead of me, so I’m really excited about that. This team that we have this year is really good. I think it’s the best team we’ve had since I’ve been there, and I’m excited to see it come together in training camp and the regular season."

Lawrence guided the 2022 Jaguars to a playoff berth and a come-from-behind postseason win over the Los Angeles Chargers, and Jacksonville then started last season at 8-3. However, he dealt with multiple injury-related setbacks as the Jaguars lost five of six games to fall out of the conference's playoff spots.

Despite Lawrence's overall lack of postseason success (1-1 career playoff record), he received a five-year contract extension this offseason that could be worth up to $275M and included $142M fully guaranteed. The 24-year-old sounds eager to throw to weapons such as receivers Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, Devin Duvernay, rookie Brian Thomas Jr. and tight end Evan Engram.

"We have a really dynamic group of pass catchers, I really don't want to just say receivers because tight ends are another piece to it too," Lawrence added during the show, per Nick Shook of the league's website. "...So, you look at that and just the type of pass catchers we have, whether they are big, fast, strong, good after the catch or creating separation. I kind of think we have all of that — as a quarterback, it makes me really excited."

As of Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Jacksonville at +130 betting odds to make the playoffs for the upcoming campaign. While Lawrence's extension is a long-term investment, it goes without saying that ownership would like him to participate in at least a single postseason game this coming January.