Last week, the offseason took an intriguing turn when a Big 10 basketball reporter claimed that the Pittsburgh Steelers had reached out to the Jacksonville Jaguars regarding a potential trade for quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

In response, the Jaguars quickly communicated to ESPN.com that there is “no chance” a trade would occur. Following this, Lawrence made it clear on Monday that he wouldn’t be waiving his no-trade clause and stated he’s “not going to Pittsburgh.

Additionally, a source close to the matter revealed that the Steelers did not actually contact the Jaguars about Lawrence.

The idea that the Steelers might have initiated such a call isn’t entirely far-fetched. If they are exploring quarterback upgrades for 2025, it would be logical to gauge the availability of current starters by reaching out to various teams. However, given that the Jaguars currently lack a General Manager, it raises the question of whom the Steelers would even contact—would it be assistant GM Ethan Waugh, who is one of the finalists for the GM position, or Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli? Perhaps even owner Shad Khan?

What we gather is that the upper management of the Jaguars remains steadfast in their commitment to Lawrence. If someone within the Jaguars organization informed Ryan Burr from the Big 10 Network about the Steelers’ alleged interest, it may have come from someone less convinced about Lawrence’s future and possibly attempting to stir interest for him from potential suitors.

While Lawrence is not considered untouchable like some elite quarterbacks—such as Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, or Lamar Jackson—the notion of trading him isn’t completely off the table. At the right offer, the Jaguars might have to entertain discussions, especially if new head coach Liam Coen has lingering doubts about Lawrence’s fit for the team (though Coen is unlikely to express any misgivings publicly).

The looming question now is whether another team might reach out to the Jaguars, particularly with the NFL Scouting Combine taking place in Indianapolis next week.

Furthermore, although Lawrence has made it clear he wouldn’t waive his no-trade clause to join the Steelers, it’s not impossible to envision him considering a trade to a competitive team, like the Rams. The allure of joining a club that recently reached the playoff quarterfinals and features a coaching mind like Sean McVay cannot be overlooked.

In summary, if a less senior employee from the Jaguars intentionally leaked the information about the Steelers calling about Lawrence, it may have succeeded in piquing interest across the league. While the likelihood of a trade remains slim, teams assessing their quarterback situations may find reason to make inquiries.

Just not at the level of the General Manager.