Trevor Lawrence Gets New Backup QB as Jaguars Eye 2026 MVP Run

Trevor Lawrence will have a new competitor in the Jacksonville Jaguars' quarterback room for the 2026 season. The team acquired former Texas Longhorns starter Quinn Ewers in a trade with the Miami Dolphins on August 29, 2026, adding depth behind their franchise star. This move comes as Lawrence, fresh off a career year, is being touted as a potential darkhorse candidate for the NFL's Most Valuable Player award.

A New Face in the Quarterback Room

The Jaguars are bringing in Quinn Ewers to compete for the primary backup role. Ewers, a seventh-round pick by Miami in 2025, started three games as a rookie, completing 55 of 83 passes for 622 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions. He will battle veteran Nick Mullens, who is entering his ninth NFL season and second with Jacksonville. As part of the trade, the Jaguars and Dolphins agreed to swap third-round picks in the 2027 NFL Draft. This transaction provides insurance for a Jaguars offense that is built around Lawrence's arm.

The Case for an MVP Season

Analysts are pointing to Lawrence as a potential sleeper pick for the 2026 NFL MVP award. While favorites like Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and Justin Herbert dominate the conversation, Lawrence's situation is compelling. He is coming off a 2025 season where he threw for 4,007 yards and a career-high 29 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. He led the Jaguars to a 13-4 record and the AFC South title. The team's offensive weaponry, featuring receivers like Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, Brian Thomas Jr., and Travis Hunter, is considered one of the league's most well-rounded groups. This arsenal could propel Lawrence into the MVP discussion if the Jaguars make a deep playoff run.

Building on a Career Year

The foundation for this optimism is Lawrence's excellent 2025 campaign. The No. 1 overall pick in 2021 started all 18 regular-season games, guiding Jacksonville to the playoffs. His performance last season elevated his career totals to 17,822 passing yards and 98 touchdowns against 58 interceptions, with a quarterback rating of 86.3. The season ended with a Wild Card round loss to Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, a defeat that has added pressure for greater success in 2026. Lawrence's development into a top-tier quarterback is now the central narrative for the Jaguars' aspirations.

• The Jaguars traded for QB Quinn Ewers on August 29, 2026, to back up Trevor Lawrence.
• Lawrence is considered a darkhorse MVP candidate after a 29-TD, 13-win season in 2025.
• He has thrown for 17,822 yards and 98 touchdowns over his five-year NFL career.
• Jacksonville's offense features a deep receiving corps aimed at supporting an MVP push.

Note: Stories 1, 2, and 3 are about English cricketer Dan Lawrence and a cricket series between England and Pakistan. They contain no substantive information about NFL quarterback Trevor Lawrence and were therefore excluded from this consolidated news article.