Pundit Says 'Lamar Jackson Is the Best Football Player on the Planet'
The consensus is that there are four elite quarterbacks in the NFL today: Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and Patrick Mahomes. The order in which they are ranked by pundits varies.
The Ringer’s Steven Ruiz put Jackson at No. 1 in his quarterback rankings, but his praise for Jackson didn't end there.
"Lamar Jackson is the best football player on the planet. … There isn't anyone better at purely playing the sport," Ruiz wrote. "At this stage in his career, his role in the Ravens' run game almost feels superfluous. If Jackson didn't log another designed rushing attempt in his career, he would still be one of the five best quarterbacks in the league. He's grown into one of the NFL's most gifted passers.
"Nobody's better at layering a pass over the outstretched arms of a linebacker. And don't let his effortless throwing motion fool you — Jackson can sling the football to any part of the field. He doesn't need a clear platform to push the ball downfield, but his scrambling puts the fear of God in opposing pass rushers, who are afraid of allowing Jackson to escape the pocket. As long as that's the case, Jackson will enjoy extra time and space in the pocket. But I'm not sure he needs it. Jackson is the NFL's most efficient player under pressure."
NFL.com’s Nick Shook also revealed his quarterback rankings, and he had Jackson at No. 2 behind Mahomes.
"With all due respect to Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson should have won his third NFL MVP last season," Shook wrote. "He outperformed his 2023 season – his second MVP-winning campaign – in every notable statistical category. Jackson is one of one and the linchpin of the NFL's most prolific offense, a unit that returns 10 starters in 2025. He's answered the doubters who didn't believe in his passing abilities and should be considered an MVP contender annually until proven otherwise."
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer polled 88 NFL insiders, including 18 general managers and 16 head coaches, and asked them to rank who they think will be the league's five best quarterbacks at the end of the season.
Jackson was No. 4 for the second year in a row despite having one of the best seasons ever for a quarterback in 2024. He received nine first-place votes. One member of the panel did not have Jackson in his top five, which is absurd.
"Evaluators have had difficulty categorizing Jackson accurately over the past few years," Breer wrote. "He's ranked third, seventh, eighth, seventh and fourth over the past five polls, and has received a total of three first-place votes in that time."
Mahomes was No. 1 in the poll, followed by Allen and Burrow.
On a side note, The Athletic's Dianna Russini and "Good Morning Football's" Manti Te'o both picked Jackson to win his third MVP this season.
Ravens Are Popular Pick to Win Super Bowl
The Ravens are laser-focused on their season-opening game at Buffalo on "Sunday Night Football," but they hear the noise about them being Super Bowl favorites.
How could they not? It's deafening.
A slew of pundits made their Super Bowl predictions ahead of the start of the regular season tonight, and many of them are backing Baltimore to hoist the Lombardi Trophy (or at least make it to the big game).
More than half of NFL.com analysts (16 of 29) and The Athletic's NFL staff (26 of 46) went with the Ravens to win the Super Bowl. Ten members of Sports Illustrated’s MMQB staff revealed their picks, and the Ravens and Bills led the way with three votes apiece. Pundits from The Ringer, and The 33rd Team's "Check the Mic" show also predicted a Super Bowl victory for the Ravens.
At the local level, five of The Baltimore Banner’s six NFL staff members picked the Ravens to win the Super Bowl. Jonas Shaffer went with the Eagles.
Here's a look at what some of the pundits who picked the Ravens said:
NFL.com's Judy Battista: "Ravens over Eagles. Finally, Lamar Jackson and what might be the league's most complete roster get their Super Bowl."
Sports Illustrated's Greg Bishop: "Ravens 31, Vikings 27. The bet here isn't too reliant on who Baltimore added or retained this offseason, although Derrick Henry and Ronnie Stanley extensions don't hurt, nor does rookie edge rusher Mike Green. No, this is about a franchise that built around its quarterback, that advanced in postseasons and still failed, that kept getting up and reconfiguring around No. 8, and that, ultimately, will find the ultimate payoff in 2025."
The Athletic's Jacob Robinson: "Today, Baltimore fields the NFL's only flawless team. Their secondary struggled in 2024, but is notably improved with veteran additions CBs Jaire Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie, plus another season for 2024 first-round pick Nate Wiggins, as well as defensive contributions from those high-upside rookies. They even have a kicker! The only team that can beat the Ravens is themselves, and I realize how bold a claim that is, with the Chiefs and Bills in the same conference. But, like Peyton Manning in '06, Jackson's generational talent should finally lead to the Super Bowl result he's dreamed of. It was only a matter of time."
The Ringer's Ruiz: "Ravens over Eagles. I'm tempted to jump on the Packers bandwagon after the Micah Parsons trade, but there's still a significant gap between the Eagles and every other team in the NFC. The roster is too talented, the coaching staff is too good, and the floor is too high to pick against the reigning champs in that conference. But I'm going with my AFC pick to win the Super Bowl. I might be headed for the Fell for It Again Award, but I'll take the Ravens to win it all."
Why Green Might Be Ravens' Biggest X-Factor
Press Box’s Glenn Clark said the key to the Ravens getting over the hump in the playoffs is the defense making more big plays and getting takeaways.
To that end, Clark believes rookie outside linebacker Green could be the difference-maker.
"The Ravens have done a very good job of scheming and generating pressure during the regular season," Clark wrote. "They have been in the top half of the league in sacks per game each year of the Jackson era except 2021. They've been top five in each of the last two seasons. But that hasn't always translated against the best teams in the NFL.
"That's why I can't shake the feeling that Mike Green might be the organization's biggest X-factor this season. The second-round pick is coming off a 17-sack season at Marshall that included three forced fumbles. … If he can translate that dominant rushing ability early in his career and make an immediate big-play impact, it might be exactly what the Ravens need to change their postseason fate."
Clark made it clear that it's not all on Green's shoulders, but on the defense as a whole.
"It's just that the Ravens have been looking for a truly dominant, game-wrecking edge rusher since Terrell Suggs departed. If Green can become that guy, he might very well be the [final] piece …" Clark wrote.
Ravens Fans Are Overwhelmingly Optimistic About 2025 Team
Pundits aren't the only ones who are high on the Ravens this season. Ravens fans are feeling really good about the team, according to The Athletic’s Hope-o-Meter poll.
Of the Ravens fans who participated in the survey, 96.2 percent were optimistic about Baltimore's chances this season. Only the Broncos (98.7), Eagles (98.3), and Buccaneers (97.1) were higher.
One Ravens optimist wrote: "Pretty simple, they have the most talented and deepest roster in the NFL. They have a great blend of youth and experience. They're battle tested in the postseason. They have an excellent coaching staff. They're hungry and motivated for a championship."
Another optimist had a more succinct reason for believing in the Ravens: "Through Lamar Jackson all things are possible."
Quick Hits
Yesterday's Most Read: Ravens Sign Special Teams Ace to Practice Squad
- Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr, 33, was named one of the top assistant coaches under 40 by The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov.
