The Athletic’s new QB tier rankings list, written by Mike Sando (with input from dozens of coaches and executives around the NFL), is flat out disrespectful to Lamar Jackson and his accomplishments. I don’t know how these coaches are getting paid to coach and manage defenses if they think Lamar Jackson can’t beat them with his arm.
This new article by The Athletic has taken the media world by storm and for good reason. Mike Sando surveyed dozens of current and former coordinators and coaches around the NFL to get their opinions how to rank the 35 best quarterbacks today.
Many names were placed in the correct order (in my opinion) as players like Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Tom Brady, Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert rightfully made up the Tier 1 list.
However, there was also some strange placements too. Russell Wilson and Matt Stafford missed out on a Tier 1 ranking, while runner-up to Offensive Rookie of the Year, Mac Jones, came in at 18th (Tier 3). That ended up being two spots below Jimmy Garoppolo, who was (I have no idea how) ranked the 16th (also Tier 3) best QB.
Nevertheless, the most egregious ranking on this list came with Lamar Jackson’s 10th (Tier 2) place finish. But it is not egregious for the ranking (you’ll see why).
First, I have to say that I agree with the idea that Jackson is at least a Top-10 quarterback in this league. So, I’ll give the list credit for that, although I’d probably rank him at 9th (replacing Deshaun Watson, who would go down to 10th on my list).
Where I’m taking exception to this list is to the blatant disrespect the two defensive coordinators conveyed while talking about Lamar. One coordinator (unanimously) said, “If he has to pass to win the game, they ain’t winning the game…I don’t (care) if he wins the league MVP 12 times, I don’t think he’ll ever be a 1 as a quarterback.” Is this guy serious?
Lamar Jackson is a former league MVP, who has thrown for 36 TDs in a season and has set an NFL record with 35 wins while under the age of 25. No player in NFL history has been more successful, in terms of consistent regular season team success, before they reached the age of 25 (well, apart from Tom Brady as he won 2 Super Bowls when he turned 25).
Still, I get the coordinators hesitancy regarding Lamar’s throwing capabilities as he has only reached the 3,000 passing-yards/season once (which was his MVP year).
And he had a bad year, by his standards, last season. But so did the rest of the Baltimore team. That team was ravaged by injury like very few teams have been in NFL history. Even Lamar Jackson missed games of the 2021/22 regular season due to injury, which hut his overall stat line.
And Baltimore still almost made it to the playoffs.
That is why it is ludicrous to say that the Ravens “ain’t winning the game” if Lamar Jackson is forced to throw the ball. His 76% winning percentage as a starter proves that Baltimore has and will continue to win with Lamar as QB.
Besides, doesn’t anyone remember Josh Allen’s first few years in the NFL? Every was calling him an overhyped, gunslinging bust before the NFL “clicked” for him. I’m positive the same will happen to Lamar and his passing game next season.
Lamar Jackson may never be the greatest passer in the NFL, but he can develop into an extremely efficient one. And what he can’t accomplish with his arm, he’ll definitely make up for it with his legs. That is why what this unanimous (of course, they always are) coordinator said is so dumb.
Images Sources: Featured Image:
Other Sources: (The Athletic) (NFL Quarterback Tiers 2022: Allen, Herbert and Burrow Make Tier 1 Debuts – The Athletic)
