Making the case for Lamar Jackson as the Seahawks QB of the future
An MVP talent
Lamar Jackson was taken by the Baltimore Ravens with the final pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. The 2016 Heisman Trophy winner out of Louisville was easily the most gifted player in his QB class. Playing for a school more known for basketball than football, Lamar carried the Cardinals to a 9-4 record, while amassing 51 touchdowns and 5,000 total yards.
The only reason he wasn’t in the discussion for the top overall pick was that some questioned whether he had the body and arm to throw in the NFL. Most notably, Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian caused quite the stir by saying Lamar should switch to wide receiver in the draft.
Lamar fell but landed in one of the best spots he possibly could have gone to. In Baltimore, Lamar was able to sit behind a fading Joe Flacco for the first ten weeks before a Flacco injury put Jackson in charge of a 4-5 Ravens team. From there, Jackson would help lead the Ravens to a 6-1 record and an AFC North Division championship. Though they would lose in the Wild Card round to the Chargers 23-17, Lamar Jackson cemented himself as the future in Baltimore.
Coming into the 2019 season, there were reasonably high expectations for the Ravens. They had signed Seahawk legend Earl Thomas to lead a dominant defense, meaning their hopes to repeat the previous season’s success would fall upon the offense. That question was answered in the first game of the season.
The Ravens would destroy the Miami Dolphins on the road in their season opener, 59-10. Lamar Jackson would throw for 17 for 20, 324 yards and five touchdowns, good for a perfect 158.3 quarterback rating. The special Ravens regular season has begun.
Jackson and the Ravens would dominate the league, going 14-2, and leading the league in most categories, including points per game at 33.2. Jackson put together one of the most impressive MVP campaigns to date. 3,000 yards passing, 1,000 yards rushing, with 43 total touchdowns in 15 games.
With the top overall seed locked up in the AFC, the Ravens earned a first-round bye and appeared to be on a collision course with the Sam Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl. Instead, the Ravens were stunned and embarrassed by Derrick Henry and the Tennessee Titans 28-12. One of the great regular seasons in franchise history, ending in bitter disappointment.
The following season saw Jackson come a bit more down to earth, as the Ravens went 11-5, with Jackson’s passing number dropping slightly, while his dynamic rushing continued to dominate games. A revenge wildcard game victory over the Titans gave Jackson his first playoff victory, but their run was ended in the divisional round yet again, this time in a rough 17-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
2021 continued the downward trend for Jackson and Baltimore, as most of his numbers continued to slightly drop, and his team went 7-5 before his injury cost him the final five games of the season due to a severe bone bruise on his ankle.
So four years of winning football, awards, playoff appearances, and yet Jackson and the Ravens haven’t come to terms on an extension. It seems odd. Do the Ravens not believe in Lamar? Is his style of play not sustainable, or do they just not want to pay him $40+ million a year?
Maybe the discord is with Jackson. The team is far less talented than it was in 2019, and the coaching staff has experienced a noticeable turnover. Maybe he feels done with a team that traded away his best wide receiver this off-season.
The fact there’s been more whispers about Lamar being unhappy with negotiations, than a deal getting closer, makes me think there’s a very real chance this is Jackson’s last season in Baltimore.
Could Seattle be in his future?