We are now in the time of the year following the Super Bowl when teams start to maneuver for April's NFL Draft. Thus, rumors of potential blockbuster trades pop up with regularity. One of the latest rumors involves former Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence.
Thursday Morning, Ryan Burr of the Big Ten network was the first to report on X that the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Pittsburgh Steelers were engaged in talks about Lawrence. Why a Big Ten Network personality was the first with this scoop is unknown but his report was shared on X by many others in the industry giving Burr some credibility.
However, since those posts went up, ESPN's Jaguars reporter Michael DiRocco refuted them. He says that one of his Jacksonville sources said there is "no chance" that the organization would trade Lawrence.
Steelers have made inquiries to the @Jaguars about a trade for QB Trevor Lawerence. This directly from the horses mouth in the Jags organization. WOW!
— Ryan Burr (@RyanBurr) February 13, 2025
Regarding recent report that Steelers have inquired about a trade for Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence, a Jaguars source said there's "no chance" they'll trade Lawrence and called the idea "ridiculous."
— Michael DiRocco (@ESPNdirocco) February 13, 2025
Would it make sense for the Jaguars to trade Trevor Lawrence?
Though it is wise for the Jaguars to at least listen to the Steelers' inquiries about Lawrence, to actually make a deal that sends away a young and supremely talented QB would be a mistake.
We would have to assume that any trade package would involve Pittsburgh's first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, that pick is not very valuable considering that the Steelers are picking 21st this year.
Of course, Lawrence was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft. Thus, it would be a bad look for the Jaguars to flip a former top pick in the entire draft, and one who has played well at times in his career, for a late first-round pick.
What's more, if Jacksonville were to ship Lawrence off to Pittsburgh, it would make them desperate to find another starting QB and this offseason, there isn't going to be an option as good as Lawrence. First of all, this is a weak draft at the quarterback position with no sure-fire prospect at that position. What's more, it is hard to conceive that the Jaguars would be able to draft a starting QB at pick 21.
The free-agent market is not flooded with starting-caliber QBs either. The top two free agent options at the position this offseason are journeyman Sam Darnold who has had one quality season as a starter in the NFL and 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers who is coming off of the worst season of his legendary career.
In other words, there is no option better than Lawrence for the Jaguars to turn to. What's more, the franchise just hired former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen as their head coach. Therefore, it would be ludicrous for the franchise to hire an offensive guru only to then take away his starting quarterback and replace him with a lesser player.
That's why it seems unlikely that Lawrence will be traded. This feels like the Steelers are kicking the tires on Lawrence and when another franchise does that, you have to at least listen to what they are offering. In the end, though, trading Lawrence doesn't make enough sense for the Jaguars to actually pull the trigger.