​Trevor Lawrence, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ young quarterback, found himself outside the top 10 in ESPN’s rankings of NFL signal-callers as the league entered the 2026 season. The rankings, crafted by Jeremy Fowler, stand apart because they are created with input from about 70 NFL executives, coaches, and scouts who serve as voters. In addition to the consensus from those voters, Fowler’s process also incorporates extensive research, interviews, and film analysis conducted by Matt Bowen, ensuring a well-rounded assessment of each quarterback’s current standing and potential.
After weighing all of these elements, Fowler publishes a top 10 list, highlights several honorable mentions, and notes which players received votes. This year, Lawrence was categorized among the honorable mentions, signaling that while he didn’t crack the top tier, he remained on the radar of evaluators who see continued growth potential in his game. An AFC offensive coach, who spoke with Fowler, pointed to Lawrence’s improved control of turnovers and a clearer grasp of opposing defenses as key factors contributing to his elevated performance. “He plays better ball when the offensive infrastructure and personnel around him set him up for success instead of asking him to do everything on his own. Liam [Coen] did a nice job in Year 1 of giving him the answers to the test pre-snap,” the coach noted.
Lawrence’s success last season was closely tied to the offense installed by Liam Coen, with a noticeable surge in performance during the latter half of the year as Lawrence grew more comfortable within the system. The Jaguars’ offense surged to the top tier of the league during an eight-game winning streak, and Lawrence himself emerged as an MVP finalist for his contributions during that stretch. While his late-season performance was standout, many evaluators recognize that a second year within the same offensive system can be a catalyst for significant improvement, as players gain a stronger command of the playbook and trust in the scheme’s structure.
Throughout the offseason, Coen has expressed continued confidence in Lawrence. He has admired the quarterback’s ability to protect the football while also pushing the ball downfield when opportunities arise. Coen has also observed Lawrence’s proficiency in operating the offense pre-snap, noting how his understanding of alignments, reads, and responsibilities has translated into more efficient execution under center. The dynamic between a more stable playbook environment and Lawrence’s blossoming aptitude for processing information appears to be shaping the trajectory of his development heading into the new season.
This broader context helps explain why Lawrence remains a focal point of discussions about the Jaguars’ ceiling in 2026. Coaches and analysts alike have cited his growth in reading defenses, managing game flow, and making timely decisions as hallmarks of a quarterback who is poised to take another meaningful step forward. As the Jaguars look to build on the momentum of last year’s run, Lawrence’s progression—especially his ability to sustain success with a cohesive offensive framework—will be watched closely by fans and evaluators who remain curious about how high his potential can rise within a system that is conducive to his strengths. This narrative, underscored by Fowler’s multi-faceted evaluation and the voices of those who pace the league, suggests that Lawrence’s trajectory remains upward, even if he remains on the outside of the top 10 in the initial 2026 rankings. This continuing storyline adds another layer to the expectations surrounding the Jaguars’ offense and Lawrence’s role as its lead operator.