2018 NFL Draft: Key strengths and weaknesses for Lamar Jackson

2018 NFL Draft prospect Lamar Jackson has come under fire for his run-first approach to the quarterback position. Is he a legitimate NFL QB?

As the 2018 NFL Draft approaches, no player has emerged as a more divisive figure than Lamar Jackson. The 2016 Heisman Trophy award-winner has earned a vast number of fans and supporters, all the while alienating conventional thinkers as the antithesis of a traditional quarterback.

That unorthodox approach has inevitably alienated the masses and caused many to question where he should be selected in the 2018 NFL Draft—and at what position.

It may seem absurd to question what position a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback should play in the NFL. Some understandably fear that Jackson is more Eric Crouch than Marcus Mariota, however, which has ultimately resulted in overwhelming question marks.

That discussion grew even louder in recent days.

In a recent appearance on the ESPN LA Morning Show with Keyshawn, Jorge, and LZ, former NFL executive Bill Polian commented that Jackson may be better as a wide receiver (h/t The Big Lead).

"“I don’t think that Lamar, the Louisville kid’s in that discussion, in fact there’s a question that he may be, he might be a receiver.” “I’m not saying he isn’t [an NFL quarterback], I just don’t think he’s in the class of the other three.”"

The, “Other three,” in this discussion are fellow 2018 NFL Draft prospects and quarterbacks Josh Allen, Sam Darnold, and Josh Rosen.

Jackson is one of the greatest individual talents that college football has ever known. Known more for running the football than throwing it, however, there’s a widespread belief that he may not be able to play quarterback in the NFL.

The question is: Can Lamar Jackson play quarterback at the highest possible level? His strengths and weaknesses may be able to answer that question.

Strength: Running Quarterbacks Can Win

Lamar Jackson is a run-first quarterback, which has created the foundation for this debate. Most question Jackson’s NFL fit due to the fact that quarterbacks who tend to tuck and run the football tend to struggle in the NFL.

Or do they?

In 2017, eight quarterbacks ran for at least 300 yards. Of those eight players, six helped their respective teams reach the playoffs: Cam Newton (754), Russell Wilson (586), Tyrod Taylor (427), Alex Smith (355), Blake Bortles (322), and Marcus Mariota (312).

The only exceptions were MVP candidate Russell Wilson (586), rookie Deshone Kizer (419), and Dak Prescott (357), who led the Dallas Cowboys to the playoffs in 2016.

Not on the list was Carson Wentz, who ran for 299 yards in 13 games and led Philadelphia to an 11-2 record. Close behind him was Deshaun Watson, who ran for 269 yards in seven appearances, and had Houston off to a 3-4 start to the season, with three single-digit losses to teams that finished above .500.

As Taylor and Bortles have proven, all Jackson needs to do is take care of the ball to help his team win games. Thus, the track record exists for Jackson to succeed as a running quarterback.

If he improves his accuracy as a passer and better understands when to run, then the potential will exist for Jackson to become a star.

Weakness: Body Type

Mobile quarterbacks can be highly effective players in the NFL. In fact, it’s become something of a prerequisite for incoming players. Whether you’re a dynamic runner like Colin Kaepernick and Cam Newton or a sneaky threat like Aaron Rodgers and Alex Smith, mobility is a strength.

The advantage that those four players have over Lamar Jackson, however, is less about skill and more about body type. In other words: They’re built to take the hit.

Jackson is currently listed at 6’3″ and 211 pounds. He’s an impressive athlete, but when compared to a run-first quarterback like Newton—6’5″ and 245 pounds—or Kaepernick—6’4″ and 230 pounds—the disparity is profound.

Jackson could certainly bulk up in order to prepare himself for the hits that he’s bound to take, but his frame seems to be naturally smaller than Newton’s or Kaepernick’s.

A better comparison for Jackson may be Robert Griffin III, who was a borderline dominant force before his knee injury in 2012. Griffin was a significantly more polished pocket passer, but the comparison is valid due to their athleticism, scrambling ability, and body types.

If Griffin teaches Jackson anything, it’s that he needs to make throwing the ball the first priority. That and, for the love of everything sacred, try to slide or get out of bounds before you take a hit in the open field.

Linebackers and safeties love little more than punishing a quarterback for running. With linemen already targeting him in the pocket, he must minimize the damage he takes..

Strength: Arm Strength

We’ll touch on his accuracy soon, but there’s no possible way to dispute the fact that Lamar Jackson has a big arm. He can float the ball downfield with the flick of a wrist, which creates the foundation for a moldable skill set.

It’s not a Tim Tebow situation where throwing the ball simply isn’t something he excels at doing; Jackson can beat a defense over the top with relative ease.

This isn’t to say that Jackson will be dropping dimes all over the field, nor is it to say that he can fit a perfect spiral into tight coverage on 3rd-and-5. It does establish, however, that his arm strength isn’t the issue at hand.

That least gives him Michael Vick potential in the sense that he can either tuck it and run or go over the top to speedy playmakers who get behind the safeties.

If Jackson is drafted to a team that’s willing to build a system around what he can and can’t do, he can be successful. If he and the coaching staff are willing to put the tireless work in to improve his short-to-intermediate accuracy, then he could transcend the system.

Jackson is an understandably polarizing player due to his unorthodox style of play, but the ability to throw the football is one he possesses.

Weakness: Throwing Accuracy

The NFL is a defense-oriented league, but teams without reliable quarterback play will fall short of expectations. In the case of Lamar Jackson, his dynamic play is admittedly complemented by a question of whether or not he can be a trustworthy pocket passer.

Much of Jackson’s inconsistency has been overblown and overstated, but one can’t help but question if he has the accuracy to excel under pressure.

Jackson improved his completion percentage in each of his three seasons at Louisville, which is an admitted feather in his cap. It’s bigger than the numbers, however, as Jackson is simply more likely to hit the open man than he is to throw a receiver open.

This could change as he improves his ability to read coverages, but in his current form, Jackson is essentially a dynamic runner and an average passer—an archetype that doesn’t tend to last in the NFL.

When the pocket collapsed and Jackson was forced to rifle throws to his wide receivers, he often failed to put the ball where it needed to be. Louisville admittedly lacked playmakers and high-quality pass protectors, but it may not be any easier for Jackson as a rookie.

Other quarterbacks in this draft class have accuracy issues themselves, but we need to focus more on Jackson and less on the field. This is an area in which he must improve.

Strength: Dynamic Playmaker

Many quarterbacks in this draft class can be described as versatile and promising. What’s causing hesitation near the top of the board, however, is the fact that few quarterbacks are jumping off the page as truly dynamic playmakers—if you look past Lamar Jackson, that is.

There may be prospects who are more fundamentally polished, but there isn’t a more dynamic playmaker at the quarterback position than Jackson.

Jackson combined for 5,114 yards from scrimmage and 51 total touchdowns during his legendary 2016 season. He followed that Heisman Trophy winning effort by producing 5,261 total yards and 45 total touchdowns during his under-appreciated 2017 campaign.

Beyond the numbers, Jackson has a unique ability to break a defense down with both his arm and his legs—and he does so in a way the college game had never previously seen.

It’s fair to question how college dominance will translate to the NFL—see: Johnny Manziel, Eric Crouch, and Tim Tebow—but Jackson may be different. For starters, he has the benefit of hindsight. He has the luxury to study and understand what went wrong for said players.

It’s also worth noting that Jackson accomplished what he did with far less talent around him than players such as Manziel, Crouch, or Tebow.

Must Read: 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Super Bowl LII Edition

Lamar Jackson needs a coach who will be patient with him, but if he’s given the benefit of the doubt, he could emerge as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2018 NFL Draft.