It’s not often a quarterback of the caliber of Lamar Jackson becomes available, especially at the age of 26. But for some strange reason, that is exactly what has happened, and teams don’t seem to be rushing to sign him.
One of the reasons a lot of reporters and the public alike tend to point to when trying to explain why Jackson doesn’t have a deal yet is the fact that he doesn’t have an agent. Although that may be true, and an agent could help smooth the process, Jackson is clear on what he feels he is worth. And no agent would be able to convince him otherwise.
Lamar Jackson is a former unanimous MVP, a feat that has only ever been achieved on one other occasion and it was by the GOAT Tom Brady. Usually, when a quarterback achieves something of that magnitude while on their rookie contract, the team that drafted them almost always keeps and pays them what they are asking.
However, in this instance, what Jackson is asking for is quite uncommon and is probably why the Baltimore Ravens have been reluctant to give him a new deal and why teams haven’t been flocking for his signature as they were doing for Deshaun Watson just one year ago.
Lamar Jackson believes he is worth what he is asking for, here are three reasons why he may actually be right.
Reason 1: Lamar Jackson Wins Games
Lamar Jackson is one of the most exciting players to ever play in the NFL, but that’s not all he does. Since coming into the league, he has done nothing but win. Prior to Jackson’s arrival in Baltimore, the Ravens made the playoffs in just one of the previous five seasons.
The Ravens drafted Jackson in 2018 and was a backup to veteran quarterback Joe Flacco. In week 10, with the Ravens sitting at 4-5, head coach John Harbaugh made the decision to insert the rookie as the starter and they never looked back. The Ravens went 6-1, with the one loss coming in overtime against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs Jackson on their way to a 10-6 season and a playoff berth.
The following season would go down as one of the greatest individual seasons of all time. Jackson helped Ravens to the best record in football that year, leading the league in touchdown passes with 36 adding another 7 on the ground.
In his first full season as a starter, Lamar Jackson was the MVP of the league. Since becoming a starter, the Ravens 45-14 with Jackson as the starter and are 4-8 without him. They are a completely different team when he is not in the lineup.
In 2021, the Ravens were 8-4 and well-placed in the AFC to make the post-season. Then Jackson rolled his ankle in the pocket and was forced to miss the reason of the season, the Ravens went 0-5 without him and missed the playoffs.
His impact on any team would be almost identical because he’s just that unique of a player. And although under usual circumstances quarterback wins aren’t an accurate assessment of a player’s importance, the difference between when he is playing and he isn’t is clear to see.
Reason 2: He Is Still Getting Better
Every year since his rookie season, Lamar Jackson has shown signs of improvement. Obviously, he is not your traditional pocket passer, and because of that a lot of people wrongly determine that he is not a good passer.
Jackson may not have the ideal throwing motion and his mechanics may not be what you’d want in your franchise quarterback, but there are clear signs of improvement and signs that he is working on his throwing mechanics to make it more efficient and effective.
When you watch Lamar Jackson now, you can see him going through his progressions more comfortably and making the right read then delivering the ball on time. Unlike earlier or where he would take off as soon as his primary option was covered.
Since his rookie season where he had a completion percentage of 58.2%, his average over the next four years has been 64.3% which would be better than the league average most years. So, the idea that he isn’t a good passer just isn’t accurate, especially when the Ravens haven’t provided an adequate number-one receiver for Jackson to throw to at any point during his career.
If Lamar Jackson continues his upward trajectory in the passing game, which is more than likely to happen coupled with his electrifying impact with the ball in his hands as a runner, why wouldn’t you want him leading your team?
Reason 3: He is not Injury Prone
This idea that Lamar Jackson somehow doesn’t deserve the money he is asking for because he is injury prone, is ridiculous. In the last five seasons, since he was drafted, Jackson has been active for 70 out of 82 games (85.4%). Two games he missed due to illness and one game due to COVID.
His playing style shouldn’t be any cause for concern either because the two times he was forced to miss time out due to a football injury, they occurred inside the pocket and could have happened to anybody.
Injuries are a part of the game, and they happen to everyone. However, this notion that Lamar Jackson is a ‘risk’ because of his playing style simply is not true. Rushing quarterbacks in general don’t get injured as often as people may assume.
Jackson is a smart runner, once he gets out of the pocket he is in control and although he may not slide often, he does get out of bounds and, more often than not avoids big hits.
A healthy Lamar Jackson is one of the best players in the league, and most teams in the NFL would be much better off with him leading their team.