Jaguars QB Depth Chart: Why Jacksonville trusts Mac Jones to replace Trevor Lawrence

With the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Trevor Lawrence, paving the way for the former Clemson playmaker to be the franchise’s quarterback for years to come.

Although his career got off to a rocky start, Lawrence has since settled into his role, leading Jacksonville to a division title and a playoff win in his second season. Despite missing the postseason in 2023, Lawrence signed a contract extension with the Jaguars ahead of the 2024 season, reaffirming his commitment to the franchise and vice versa.

Since signing Lawrence, Jacksonville has made a conscious effort to build its team around its franchise quarterback. In addition to signing offensive playmakers, the Jaguars have also expanded their quarterback room to have a backup plan for their franchise arm in case of an emergency.

As Jacksonville hopes to return to the playoffs in 2024, here’s an updated look at a quarterback room with Lawrence at the helm and another first-round pick from his draft class.

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Jaguars QB Depth Chart

Starter: Trevor Lawrence

Lawrence, a Day 1 starter for the Jags, has settled into his role as the franchise QB. After going 3-14 during a turbulent rookie season in 2021, Lawrence led his team to a 9-8 record in 2022, throwing for 4,113 yards, 25 touchdowns and just eight interceptions.

With Lawrence at quarterback, Jacksonville ended a four-year playoff drought in 2022 and then made a miraculous comeback in the Wild Card round that gave the then 23-year-old his first playoff win.

Year three didn’t go as well for Lawrence, as he and the Jaguars failed to make two straight playoff appearances. The 2023 season also marked Lawrence’s first time missing a game due to injury, as an ankle injury prevented him from missing Jacksonville’s win over Carolina in Week 17.

Prior to the 2024 season, Lawrence signed a five-year, $275 million contract extension with the Jaguars, reflecting good performance in his first three seasons. With a new contract and numerous offensive weapons, Lawrence is expected to help lead Jacksonville back to the playoffs despite a rocky 0-2 start to the season.

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Replacement: Mac Jones

Like Lawrence, Jones is a former first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Patriots selected Jones with the 15th pick in 2021 as the likely successor to Tom Brady.

Jones, who has big shoes to fill, made an impressive start to his career, playing his part in leading New England to a 10-7 record before suffering a nasty loss early in the 2021 playoffs.

After his solid rookie season, things quickly deteriorated for Jones in New England and it became clear that he was not the right fit at quarterback. After Jones’ third season, both he and New England were ready to move in a different direction.

In March, the Patriots traded Jones to the Jaguars for a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. It’s a homecoming for the 26-year-old, who was born and raised in Jacksonville before attending the University of Alabama.

During the 2024 preseason, Jones’ play impressed Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson. Despite the draws, the Jaguars declined Jones’ fifth-year option, meaning he will become a free agent after the 2024 season.

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Training squad: John Rhys Plumlee

Plumlee began his college football career at Ole Miss before transferring to Central Florida in 2022. In two seasons with the Knights, Plumlee led the team to a record of 13-10 in games he started. Plumlee also played baseball at UCF.

Despite a solid two-sport career at UCF, Plumlee went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft. He signed with the Steelers shortly after the draft and remained with the team through training camp before being released in late August.

Plumlee signed with the Jaguars on August 30 and joined the practice squad prior to Week 1 of the 2024 season.