2018 NFL Draft: Michael Vick praises Lamar Jackson
Lamar Jackson has emerged as one of the most dynamic prospects in the 2018 NFL Draft. Former superstar quarterback Michael Vick offered high praise.
Over the course of the past three seasons, Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson has set the college football world ablaze. An electric runner with a big arm and unprecedented statistics, Jackson won the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, and two ACC Player of the Year awards.
As the 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Combine approaches, however, few prospects are facing more scrutiny than Jackson.
Jackson is a phenomenal talent, but there are some who question if he’s capable of playing quarterback in the NFL. Thankfully, in the face of adversity, Jackson has found an ally who faced similar criticism on the field: Michael Vick.
In a recent appearance on the Move The Chains Podcast, Vick praised Jackson as a significantly better player than himself coming out of college (h/t of Chase Goodbread of NFL.com).
"“I could not believe what I had seen. I could not believe the things he was able to do — It was a spitting image of me,” Vick said. “And the only thing that came to my mind was this kid is five times better than I was when I was at Virginia Tech, only because he was going against Florida State. I remember how difficult it was for me to make plays against Florida State. What effort had to be put into getting first downs, scoring touchdowns.”"
Whether or not you agree, that’s high praise from one of the most dynamic playmakers in college football and NFL history.
When Vick came out of college, he was a 6’0″ and 210-pound playmaker who ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at his Pro Day. Jackson is currently listed at 6’3″ and 215 pounds, and while some believe he’s shorter, it’s an encouraging measurement.
The difference that many have been quick to point out has been that Vick benefited from having a thicker and stockier build than Jackson.
As far as playing style and abilities are concerned, however, Vick entered the NFL evaluation cycle facing similar questions and criticisms.
Jackson has a big arm, but struggles with his accuracy on short and intermediate throws—much like Vick. Jackson is an explosive runner who has a tendency to take on contact that he should try harder to avoid—much like Vick.
The comparisons between Jackson and Vick are clear to see. Vick seems to believe that Jackson is currently further ahead in his development than the former Virginia Tech star was at the same point.
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The question is: Will Lamar Jackson continue to silence critics once the 2018 NFL Draft arrives in April and his professional officially begins in September?