Somehow, Lamar Jackson Is Still Underrated
I'm sure Lamar Jackson is used to this by now.
After all, this is the same guy who was told he should switch positions as a high school recruit, then again as an NFL prospect.
Jackson has always made anyone who suggested such a thing look ridiculous. First at Louisville, where he became a Heisman Trophy winner as one of the most electrifying quarterbacks in the country. Then for the Baltimore Ravens, who traded up to steal him with the last pick of the first round in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Just one year after he was the fifth quarterback selected in that draft, Jackson won his first NFL MVP award at just 23 years old. Four years later, he became the youngest player in league history to win it twice.
He should have won a third in 2024, when he delivered arguably the best season the NFL has ever seen from a quarterback. Jackson threw for 4,172 yards and 41 touchdowns, with just four interceptions, leading the league with a ridiculous QB rating just shy of 120. He also rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and four more scores on the ground. The award went to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen instead (3,731 passing yards, 28 TD passes, six interceptions, 101.4 QB rating, 531 rushing yards, 12 rushing TDs).
Injuries plagued Jackson last season, limiting his effectiveness and production across 13 starts. Combined with Baltimore's defensive struggles, the Ravens limped to a disappointing 8-9 record, barely missing the playoffs on a missed chip-shot field goal in the regular-season finale.
That recency bias might be causing some amnesia across the league, given Jackson's ranking on this year's "NFL Top 100" list:
70-61 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026 are in pic.twitter.com/jzkkqPEXHC
— NFL (@NFL) July 17, 2026
The idea that a fully healthy Jackson is barely a top-70 player in the league right now is laughable, something he's likely to remind everyone of this fall. He's been one of the most revolutionary players in league history at the game's most important position, and he's still south of 30 years old.
At 29, Jackson is already the NFL's all-time leader in rushing yards by a quarterback. He simultaneously holds the league record for career QB rating at 102.2, tied with Aaron Rodgers.
Yet the same talking heads continue to dismiss him, including Fox Sports' Colin Cowherd, who recently opined that Jackson wasn't one of the top 10 quarterbacks in the league right now:
"I no longer trust Lamar Jackson in a big spot. I'm selling my stock... I'd take Bo Nix today in a 4th quarter come from behind situation over Lamar"@colincowherd and the NFL players are OUT on Lamar Jackson pic.twitter.com/IHNRHlF4Z4
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) July 14, 2026
Some continue to hold Jackson's lack of a Super Bowl win against him, but goal-line fumbles, dropped passes, and defensive inconsistency haven't helped the Ravens' championship hopes during Jackson's playoff runs. He's made his own contributions to those postseason disappointments, to be sure, but anything that falls into the "QB wins" conversation shouldn't be used as a true reflection of the player's individual value.
Jackson will have to navigate some big changes in Baltimore this season, chiefly a coaching staff overhaul after John Harbaugh's departure. But he should also benefit from a stronger supporting cast on both sides of the ball, including the addition of one of the league's top pass rushers (Trey Hendrickson) and a draft class heavy on high-impact offensive players (guard Olaivavega Ioane, wide receivers Elijah Sarratt and Ja'Kobi Lane).
Throughout his entire football career, Jackson has dealt with doubters who fail to accurately comprehend the rare skill set and impact he brings to the table. Don't be surprised if he proves them wrong yet again this season, and makes that "NFL Top 100" ranking look even more ridiculous than it does today.
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This story was originally published July 17, 2026 at 3:49 PM.