Two ESPN analysts tag Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence as a player who could compete for the NFL MVP this season. With a deep receiving corps and projected improvements on the offensive line, Lawrence could definitely make some noise for the award.
While the national media has not been focused on the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason, head coach Liam Coen has this team geared up and focused on building upon last year's 13-win season.
Throughout the preseason, Coen has praised his team for remaining hungry and focusing on getting better each and every day.
Starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence spearheads this charge, as he has talked about the growth between he and his receiving corps this offseason.
After finishing in fifth place for the NFL MVP last season, Lawrence has an opportunity to once again be in consideration, as the Jaguars have plenty of dangerous pass catchers at his disposal.
On Monday, ESPN's Mina Kimes and Benjamin Solak held an awards prediction podcast on Youtube, where they came to the same conclusion for their dark horse candidates - Trevor Lawrence.
Solak talked about how dominant Lawrence was towards the end of the regular season last year, while saying the development of players like Travis Hunter, Parker Washington, and Brian Thomas Jr. should only make him more impactful.
"If you have good offensive design and just good receivers, I mean, he's just going to pepper down the field with a golden arm," Solak said. "He also can run and can scramble and get loose a little bit so he can score rushing touchdowns as well."
Lawrence led the Jaguars to a 13-4 finish last season, claiming the AFC South title, throwing for 4,007 yards and setting the single-season franchise record for touchdowns with 38.
The former No. 1 overall pick also showed improved ability as a runner, rushing for a career-high 359 yards and shattering his previous rushing touchdown mark of five with nine last season.
This running ability, which Solak mentioned, adds another element to Lawrence's game and forced defenses to stay honest when thinking about his plethora of deep threats on the outside.
For Coen, Lawrence's intangibles and off-the-field qualities are what impress him, as he said the Jags QB's unique characteristics create a baseline for growth.
"When you start with A) humility and B) toughness, mentally and physically, I think you can do a lot with a quarterback," Coen said back in April. "I’m really excited about working with Trevor again this year."
The next step for Lawrence is translating his success to the playoffs, as he is just 1-2, with a 75.8-average QBR in three appearances.
Of course, MVP is a regular season award, but Lawrence and the team have loftier goals than in-season recongition.
Early on, the running game may be a slow burn, as Lawrence will hand the ball off to a lead back not named Travis Etienne for the first time since 2018, when both played college ball at Clemson.
Etienne, who joined the New Orleans Saints in free agency, will be replaced by what is expected to be a backfield committee of Bhayshul Tuten and newly acquired Chris Rodriguez Jr., who has prior experience with Coen from college.
In the Jaguars' first unofficial depth chart, Tuten and Rodriguez were listed as co-starters, showing that both players have been neck-and-neck in camp.
With a healthy offensive line, both Lawrence and his 1-2 punch in the backfield should be among one of the most dangerous offenses in the AFC.
If Lawrence can carry over his late-season success to this year, there is no reason why he can't compete for the MVP and have Jacksonville right back in playoff contention.
