With three full NFL seasons under his belt, former Clemson star Trevor Lawrence is eligible for a contract extension.

Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars have been in contract talks, and though the two sides have yet to reach a deal, the Jaguars are reportedly committed to locking their franchise quarterback up long-term.

Jags head coach Doug Pederson knows his job, first and foremost, is simply to coach Lawrence and the team. But while there’s only so much of a role that Pederson can play in the contract discussions, Pederson says Lawrence’s agent and Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke are working “tirelessly” on an extension for the 24-year-old signal-caller.

And Pederson knows the sooner a deal gets done, the better things would be for everyone.

“I think it’s part of the business. Obviously the sooner you get it done, right, it’s behind everybody, and now we focus on football, and so that’s not lingering and that’s not out there,” Pederson told reporters this week.

“I know Trent and (Lawrence’s) agent, they’ve continued to talk and will talk, and they’re working hard and tirelessly. I’ve just got to coach Trevor and coach football, and hopefully it gets done, and it will.”

Last month, Baalke indicated that the contract negotiations were progressing, but said “you can’t force this stuff,” regarding whether they’d like to reach a deal with Lawrence before the upcoming season.

As expected, Jacksonville recently exercised the fifth-year option for Lawrence, meaning he is now signed through 2025.

A Pro Bowler in 2022, Lawrence has completed 63.8 percent of his passes for 11,770 yards and 58 touchdowns with 39 interceptions in 50 career starts over the first three years of his NFL career.

The 2021 No. 1 overall draft pick battled through multiple injuries last season but only missed one game (the first missed game of his NFL career) in 2023, when he completed 65.6 percent of his passes for 4,016 yards and 21 touchdowns with 14 interceptions.

Pederson laid out his expectations for Lawrence at this time of the year, as Lawrence gets ready for his third season in Pederson’s system.

“Well, this time of year, obviously the leadership,” Pederson said. “A veteran guy, guys, they’re gonna look up to him. How well he incorporates some of the young players that we do have, that we’re working with and developing, and obviously (2024 first-round wide receiver) Brian (Thomas Jr.) being one of them now.

“Working with Mitch (Morse), working with Luke (Fortner), all these guys, getting time with Gabe (Davis) and just getting comfortable there. But I think the leadership part of leading this football team and really embracing that this time of year, and then that carries over to camp.”

Lawrence, Pederson and the Jags are looking to bounce back from a disappointing, 9-8 season in 2023 that saw the team lose five of its final six games and miss the playoffs — coming off a 2022 campaign when Jacksonville won the AFC South title and won a postseason game for the first time since 2017.

–Photo courtesy of Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

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