There are not 68 players in the NFL better than Lamar Jackson. There might not be 6.8.
The NFL can move on from top players very quickly, and we’re seeing recency bias at its worst this offseason when it comes to Jackson. The Baltimore Ravens quarterback was ranked No. 69 on NFL’s annual top 100 players show. He was No. 2 last year. Assuming Patrick Mahomes is above Jackson on the list and Aaron Rodgers is not, there are 67 players without multiple NFL MVP awards ahead of Jackson on that list.
The NFL’s list is as flawed as there is among the many lists in the sporting world. Every year, the placement of several players is wildly illogical. Jackson will be the most egregious example from this season.
And if that was all, it would be fine. But there’s a weird groundswell of criticism toward Jackson this month. Some of that is having to fill time in the NFL’s slow time before training camp. But it doesn’t excuse forgetting the greatness of Jackson, one of the undeniably elite players of this or any other era.
Not that it’s a new phenomenon when it comes to Jackson.
The disrespect of Lamar Jackson
Just this week alone, we’ve seen the NFL’s absurd ranking for Jackson, ESPN wonder if Jackson will lose his job (for who exactly? Tyler Huntley?) and radio host Colin Cowherd saying he’d rather have Bo Nix in a big spot than Jackson. Oh my.
Jackson had a down 2024 season. He hurt his hamstring early in the season and never seemed to fully recover. That’s unfortunate, but it happens in the NFL. And despite it all, when the Ravens needed to win in Week 18, he made some spectacular plays to put Baltimore in position to beat the Steelers. To ignore what Jackson has been over his career, after an off season affected by injury, is strange.
Two seasons ago, Jackson was the NFL’s first-team All-Pro quarterback. He nearly set the league’s all-time record for passer rating in a season and also rushed for 915 yards. He should have been NFL MVP over Josh Allen, which would have been three for Jackson. Only six players in NFL history have three MVP awards.
And now, with Jackson not even reaching his 30th birthday yet, the NFL world is acting like he’s done as a great player. Sure.
Jackson’s critics are easily found
Jackson’s story is getting more complicated. There were stories after last season, after which John Harbaugh was fired, that he can be difficult to coach. Jackson hasn’t reached a Super Bowl yet, which fuels his critics though is also not completely his fault. But a rough 2025, which was affected by injuries, have given people the opening to downgrade Jackson.
Again, of the 68 players ahead of Jackson on that NFL list, only one has won as many MVP awards and Mahomes is universally considered one of the greatest ever. The two players ahead of Jackson are on the list are Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton and Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks. Nothing against those two, but find anyone with even moderate knowledge of the NFL who would take them over Jackson.
But Jackson has dealt with nonsense for plenty of his career, dating back to when former NFL GM Bill Polian said he should switch to receiver. Any time the Ravens have lost a big game, or Jackson has had an injury-plagued season, the knives get sharpened and come out. Jackson has had some of the most incredible seasons in NFL history, and it all gets ignored the moment he’s not the best player in the league. It usually doesn’t get as bad as it has gotten this offseason, but it’s always around the corner when it comes to discussing Jackson.
Jackson is one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. Period. His accomplishments back that up. Some will force him to at least make a Super Bowl to give him his due, and that is a clear hole on his resume.
But doesn’t mean there are 68 players in the NFL better than him.
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