JACKSONVILLE – It's a topic, but for Trevor Lawrenceit's absolutely not THE topic.
"It's not really my focus," he said.
Lawrence, the No. 1 overall selection by the Jaguars in the 2021 NFL Draft, is entering his fourth NFL season. He therefore is eligible for the first time for a contract extension, which therefore made it a prominent topic when the Jaguars' starting quarterback spoke to the media Tuesday as the 2024 offseason program began.
"I'd love to obviously be a Jag for as long as possible," he said.
Lawrence, who has started 50 of 51 career games in three seasons, on Tuesday said "there definitely have been some conversations" between his representatives and the Jaguars regarding a new contract.
"We love it here and I love where we're headed as an organization and feel like I'm just getting better every year and my best ball's definitely ahead of me," he said. "So from that standpoint, obviously that would be great."
NFL draftees since the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement sign four-year contracts, with teams having a fifth-year option for first-round draft selections. Teams must choose to exercise the fifth-year option in the offseason following the player's third season.
The Jaguars have until May 2 to exercise the option for Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne Jr., the No. 25 overall selection in '21.
"It's not like this is necessarily going to be my last season [on his rookie contract],'' Lawrence said. "There's a lot that could happen. It's not really my focus right now. At the end of the day, my job isn't going to change whether I get extended or not before this season.
"My job is to go win games and to be the best I can be for this team so we can have a chance to win a Super Bowl."
Lawrence, after throwing 25 touchdowns with eight interceptions in 2022, threw 21 touchdowns with 14 interceptions in 2023. He played through a series of late-season injuries, leaving three of the Jaguars' final six games with injuries and missing the first start of his NFL career in a Week 17 home victory over the Carolina Panthers.
The Jaguars 2024 offseason program began Monday, with Lawrence saying Tuesday that will be his focus in the coming months whatever his contract status.
"I can't lie: Obviously it would be nice to have to have that done and feel good about it," he said. "But no, it's not really the focus right now. Even if I get the contract extension, that's still my job even more so.
"I have the same focus and the same mindset. I know where we're at, I know where we're heading and I know what I have to do and there are some improvements that I have to make going forward."
