Trevor Lawrence joined Joe Burrow and Jordan Love in the $55 million-a-year quarterback club this season. Only Dallas' Dak Prescott has a higher average salary at $60 million.
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is an analyst the Cleveland Browns for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Browns v. Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday, 1 p.m., in EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL
Record: 0-1.
Last game: Lost to Miami Dolphins, 20-17, September 8, in Miami Gardens, FL
Coach: Doug Pederson, 18-17, third year; 60-54-1 overall.
Series record: Jaguars lead, 12-7.
Last meeting: Browns won, 31-27, December 10, 2023, in Cleveland.
League rankings: Offense is 22nd overall (15th rushing, 25th passing), defense is 27th overall (seventh rushing, 32nd passing) and turnover differential is minus-1.
Things to watch
1. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is healthier and wealthier since the last time the Browns saw him in December. Lawrence played through a high ankle sprain v. the Browns and wound up leaving games over the next four weeks with a shoulder injury and concussion. The Jaguars lost 3 of those 4 games to fall behind Houston in the AFC South and out of the playoff picture. In the offseason, the Jags signed Lawrence to a five-year, $275 million contract. That $55 million per year average ties Lawrence with Joe Burrow and Jordan Love for second place among quarterbacks. Dak Prescott last week topped them all with a $60 million per year average over four years.
2. The Jags supported Lawrence this offseason with three major acquisitions on offense – free agent center Mitch Morse (from Buffalo), free agent receiver Gabe Davis (Buffalo) and receiver Brian Thomas (23rd overall pick in the draft). Thomas, of LSU, had 4 catches for 47 yards and a touchdown in his NFL debut. He’s the first receiver taken in the first round by Jacksonville since Justin Blackmon in 2010.
3. Defensive ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker combined for 27.5 sacks last year. No defensive end duo had more. Hines-Allen’s 17.5 sacks were second to T.J. Watt’s 19. Walker had 2 sacks last week against the Dolphins. They are joined in some 3-downlinemen sets by Arik Armstead.
4. The new-look Jaguars defense, coordinated by ex-Atlanta DC Ryan Nielsen, surrendered 400 total yards to the Dolphins last week, but 143 came on chunk pass plays of 80 yards to Tyreek Hill and 63 to Jaylen Waddle. The Dolphins won on a 52-yard field goal as time expired.
Did you know … ?
1. Dating to last season, the Jaguars have lost 6 of their last 7 games. After the Browns, they play at Buffalo on a Monday night and then play at division rival Houston. So they consider the Browns game a must-win for them.
2. No. 1 cornerback Tyson Campbell (hamstring) is out. He could be replaced by rookie Jarrian Jones, a third-round pick from Florida State.
3. Lawrence threw for 257 yards and 3 touchdowns in the 31-27 Browns win a year ago, but he was intercepted three times (M.J. Emerson twice, Greg Newsome).
4. The Jaguars drafted a kicker in the seventh round, Cam Little, of Arkansas. He made a 53-yard field goal in his NFL debut. They also added return specialist Devin Duvernay, formerly of the Ravens.
5. If granted NFL approval next month, the Jaguars expect to break ground on a $1.4 billion reconstruction of EverBank Stadium in February of 2025. As the project continues, the stadium will remain open in 2026 at a reduced capacity and the Jaguars will play in 2027 at another site, possibly Orlando, FL, or Gainesville, FL. The new stadium is expected to be completed for the 2028 season.
Small world: Doug Pederson was 1-7 as a quarterback for the Browns in 2000. His only victory came in Chris Palmer’s last victory as Browns coach against Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots … Assistant receivers coach/pass game specialist Tyler Tettleton was a Browns offensive quality control coach for the Browns in 2019 … Defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett was assistant defensive line coach with the Browns 2020-21 … Running back D’Ernest Johnson played for the Browns 2019-22.