JACKSONVILLE – So far, so good.
When it came to Trevor Lawrence potential contract extension, Jaguars General Manager Trent Baalke didn't say much Thursday. What he did say was positive.
"We've had some great talks, some great conversations," Baalke said.
Baalke, speaking at Thursday’s Jaguars 2024 pre-draft media luncheon, said he spoke with Lawrence's representatives Wednesday night.
"We're working, but you can't force this stuff," he said, adding that Owner Shad Khan and Head Coach Doug Pederson also are involved in the process.
"Ownership's involved; obviously, coach is involved," Baalke said. "We're going to put our best foot forward and hope to get something accomplished here."
Lawrence, the No. 1 overall selection by the Jaguars in the 2021 NFL Draft, is entering his fourth NFL season. Under NFL rules, this is his first offseason eligible for a contract extension. He said Tuesday while speaking to the media at the start of the team's offseason program that while the contract isn't his focus, "I'd love to obviously be a Jag for as long as possible."
"We love it here and I love where we're headed as an organization and feel like I'm just getting better every year and my best ball's definitely ahead of me," Lawrence said Tuesday. "So from that standpoint, obviously that would be great."
Added Lawrence, who has started 50 of 51 career games in NFL three seasons, "Obviously it would be nice to have to have that done and feel good about it, but no, it's not really the focus right now."
Baalke on Thursday emphasized that contract negotiations can't be forced, noting that the Jaguars earlier this month signed outside linebacker Josh Allen to a five-year contract extension.
"I said the same thing with Josh's situation," Baalke said. "I said it would take some time. It did, but we were glad that it got completed when it did so we could go into this offseason program knowing that that's behind us and we can move forward.
"So we're working at it (Lawrence's contract). We'll continue to work at it."
NFL draftees since the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement sign four-year contracts, with teams having a fifth-year option for first-round draft selections. Teams must choose to exercise the fifth-year option in the offseason following the player's third season.
The Jaguars have until May 2 to exercise the option for Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne Jr., the No. 25 overall selection in '21.
Lawrence, after throwing 25 touchdowns with eight interceptions in 2022, threw 21 touchdowns with 14 interceptions in 2023. He played through a series of late-season injuries, leaving three of the Jaguars' final six games with injuries and missing the first start of his NFL career in a Week 17 home victory over the Carolina Panthers.
