They claim that the NFL is a deadline-driven enterprise. The new contract inked by Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was not the result of an evident deadline.
The deadline was practically continuous. Some teams refuse to admit that time is not on their side.
Any given day, someone else may sign a contract that propels the market higher. The Jaguars might have waited for other quarterbacks to sign contracts, or they could have simply done it. They did it in just three seasons.
They did it with two years remaining on his rookie contract. The five-year deal keeps him under contract for seven years.
When the contract is reviewed from the date of signing, the new-money average of $55 million will return a substantially lower amount. (We expect to receive the full details soon.)
Regardless, if the Jaguars had waited, the price would have increased. So, if the Jaguars determine (as they plainly have) that Lawrence is their guy, the sooner they sign him, the cheaper it will be. Yes, it is fair to ask who they were bidding against.
But if he’s their guy, it makes no difference. They don’t want to be in a position to compete with anyone for Lawrence. This is how you ensure it. At the best possible price.