NFL Draft: Re-grading every first round pick from the 2018 NFL Draft: Number 32 overall, QB Lamar Jackson
This was pure luck by the Baltimore Ravens. They originally passed on Lamar Jackson with their 25th overall pick to take tight end Hayden Hurst. Fortunately for them, they circled back around and nabbed their man with the last pick in the 2018 draft.
With Joe Flacco still doing Joe Flacco-esque things out there, they threw Jackson into the fire during the backend of his rookie season and he successfully dragged them into the playoffs. Things didn’t go too well against the Los Angeles Chargers but the Ravens believed they had something here.
Those suspicions were proven to be right as Jackson pulled off one of the greatest seasons the NFL world had ever seen in 2019. Jackson played in 15 games and led his squad to a league-best 13-2 record. He threw for 36 touchdowns, only six interceptions, completed 66.1 percent of his passes, rushed for 1,206 yards and got into the end zone another seven times on the ground. He was easily chosen as the unanimous MVP as well as a Pro Bowler and All-Pro.
The regular season may have been great but the playoffs were another disappointment as Jackson flamed out again in the first round. He would finally win his first playoff game this past season but he wasn’t the dominant player he was the year before.
For as great as Jackson is, he still has a bit of an issue when it comes to his accuracy. If he can get that corrected, they might as well hand him the Lombardi Trophy now.
Grade: A-