Why hasn't Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence lived up to the hype? - ESPN

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is typically not an overly effusive guy. He doesn't give emotional pregame or locker room speeches. He doesn't yell at teammates or coaches on the sideline.

That's not how he leads. Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Pederson has consistently praised Lawrence for the way he stays level, never getting too high or too low.

But when he stood at the podium following the Jaguars' 18-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 2, Lawrence was angry and discouraged by the underperforming offense. He shook his head and listed mistakes made by himself, the receivers, offensive line, backs and coaches. He talked about everyone having to be accountable for a second less-than-stellar offensive performance to start the season.

«We suck right now,» he said at the podium. «So, I'm pretty shocked.»

It was as visibly upset as anyone in Jacksonville has seen Lawrence in three-plus seasons.

«That's what you want from your leader,» Pederson said last week. «I don't want anybody to sugarcoat anything.

»It may not be in his nature to do it, but you know what? He's got to do it."

As the Jaguars (0-2) head to Buffalo to face the Bills (2-0) on «Monday Night Football» (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) the discourse surrounding whether Lawrence has lived up to the hype is growing following two underwhelming performances to start the season.

Lawrence was tagged with a «generational prospect» label by draft analysts coming out of Clemson in 2021, but he has struggled with inconsistent play and turnovers in his first three NFL seasons. He's played well enough to earn a $275 million contract extension that made him one of the top-paid QBs in the league this summer, but he hasn't lived up to top-QB status on the