By all accounts, Lamar Jackson is the greatest quarterback in the NFL today. But the NFL’s own members don’t view him as such.
The stats, eye-test, advanced metrics, highlights, head-to-head wins, dominance, win percentage, success, accolades and awards all tell us who the best in the NFL is. But those aren’t enough for Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson to receive the respect he’s so rightly earned.
On Monday, ESPN released their Top 10 quarterback list ranked by NFL executives, coaches and scouts, and Jackson was placed below three quarterbacks: Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen and Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow.
There’s no argument to be made here because they’ve been splayed across Baltimore Beatdown and media outlets across the internet. They’ve been published time and time again, demonstrating all the various proofs of how Jackson is the elite, not clutching the cliff among them.
Nothing anyone can type, text, call, speak or argue in any various form can change this. Jackson’s prolific abilities have done all they can. And apparently that’s not good enough.
But at least Fowler gave Jackson credit.
“Jackson also led the NFL in Total QBR (77.3) and yards per dropback (8.3) and set new career highs in passing touchdowns (41), passing yards (4,172), yards per attempt (8.8) and touchdown-to-interception ratio,” Fowler wrote. “His Total EPA was 160.6, more than 16 points higher than any other quarterback.”
Commentary from NFL members on Jackson:
- Veteran NFL coach: “A 10-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio [10.3], winning percentage is insane [74.4%] and he’s a leading rusher on any team he’s on. He’s one of a kind.”
- NFL defensive coordinator: “Best space runner in the NFL, and he’s such a good passer now. He probably doesn’t get enough credit for how he’s improved there.”
- Veteran NFL personnel man: “I think he had to grow up as a passer. He was always more athletic than everyone else, so why not run? But he had to stay in the pocket a little bit more to prolong his career, and he’s doing that increasingly well.”
Sidenote: I think it’s pretty soft they don’t have a single head coach or high-ranking executive’s commentary on Jackson.
Worth noting, Jackson was ranked No. 4 in last season’s list. So, after his diabolical 2024 season, he moved zero spaces.
There’s no argument to be made. In the face of all proof and the truth, Jackson still cannot garner the respect of the NFL.