The Pittsburgh Steelers have asked about trading for Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, according to a report by Ryan Burr of Big Ten Network.
Burr reported on Thursday a source within the Jaguars organization told him that the Steelers have been asking about Lawrence, and even suggested that the team could consider trading this year’s first and second-round draft picks for the former No. 1 selection.
The Steelers have few options in terms of solid upgrades at quarterback this offseason, with most of the early offseason chatter surrounding bringing back one of Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, or retread veterans such as Aaron Rodgers.
Lawrence, 25, has the potential to be a cut above those options, even if he hasn’t panned out the way Jacksonville might’ve hoped when they drafted Lawrence in 2021 and then gave him a significant contract extension in 2024.
Lawrence signed a five-year, $275 million contract extension in 2024 that has $200 million in guaranteed money. The Steelers would be on the hook for a good majority of that contract if they trade for Lawrence.
He is owed $37.5 million in 2025 and 2026, all of which is guaranteed. He is also owed $41.5 million in 2027, $29 million of which is currently guaranteed. The other $12 million will become guaranteed in 2026. His $46 million in 2028 compensation would become guaranteed in 2027.
Lawrence’s deal also includes a no-trade clause, so he would have to approve such a move. The Jaguars fired Doug Pederson after the 2024 season and recently fired general manager Trent Baalke. The Jaguars do not currently have a general manager, with new head coach Liam Coen expected to play a role in finding a new one. They’ve been conducting interviews this week.
Lawrence played in 10 games in 2024, missing time with both an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder and a concussion. He finished the 2024 season ranked 29th in passer rating (85.2), 17th in QBR (59.5), 20th in adjusted net yards per attempt (5.99) and 25th in EPA per drop back (0.03).
The move would be unprecedented in Steelers history. They have never given a player the type of contract guarantees that Lawrence currently has, and the first- and second-round picks going to Jacksonville for Lawrence would represent their largest accumulation of draft capital sent out in one deal since the NFL merger.
