Last season, the Jacksonville Jaguars clinched a third-place finish in the AFC with an impressive 13-4 record. However, this success followed some challenging years at the start of the decade. During the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, the Jaguars managed just four wins, securing the first overall pick in the 2021 and 2022 NFL Drafts as a result.

In the 2021 draft, Jacksonville chose quarterback Trevor Lawrence, while the subsequent year saw them fortifying their defense by selecting defensive end Travon Walker.

Both Lawrence and Walker have become integral to the Jaguars’ long-term strategy. In 2024, Lawrence secured a five-year extension, and Walker has just been offered a four-year contract. Walker’s agreement amounts to $110 million, while Lawrence’s totals $275 million. Together, the team has invested $385 million in these top draft choices.

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Walker’s contract ensures $77 million in guaranteed money, with $50 million payable upon signing. With an average annual salary of $27.5 million, Walker ranks as the 12th-highest-paid edge rusher per year. This contract provides a significant boost compared to his fifth-year option for 2026, which was fully guaranteed at $15.196 million.

Over 60 career games, Walker has tallied 200 tackles, 27.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. His reliability is notable, having missed only five games in four seasons.

Despite battling wrist and knee injuries last season, which led to a dip in his performance, Walker aims to regain his form in 2026. Concurrently, Lawrence is poised to build upon one of the most outstanding seasons of his career.

In 2025, Lawrence threw for 4,007 yards, 29 touchdowns (a career high) and 12 interceptions. He also ran for a career-best 359 yards and nine rushing touchdowns.

Lawrence inked his five-year extension during the summer of 2024. At the time of signing, his deal was tied for the largest in NFL history, alongside Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow. Lawrence then promptly had the worst season of his career, losing four games to start the year and bowing out early after a shoulder injury and a concussion. He turned things around in 2025 while also starting in all 17 games.

The Jaguars will likely make other moves before the team gets back on the field. They’ve shown they’re willing to pay to help the franchise reach its first Super Bowl in franchise history.