2018 NFL Draft QB stock report – Week 9: Rosen has risen?
By Conor Dorney
Lamar Jackson
QB, Louisville
A newcomer to the power rankings in the place of Washington State quarterback Luke Falk, 2016 Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson continues to impress week in and week out.
Jackson is one of the most polarizing prospects in this quarterbacks class but is also without a doubt its most electric. In Week 8 against a solid Seminoles defense, Jackson threw for 156 yards and a touchdown, while adding 178 yards rushing in Louisville’s 31-28 victory.
Reports continue to surface as to whether scouts believe Jackson has the accuracy and acumen as a passer to be a starting quarterback at the next level, but the bottom line is that the Louisville star continues to put up numbers. In fact, Jackson has been able to improve his accuracy in each of his three seasons with the Cardinals:
2015: 54.7
2016: 56.2
2017: 60.3
In my scouting profile of Jackson from earlier this season, I mentioned how Jackson must continue to improve his accuracy in order to continue a rise up draft boards, and so far, he’s done just that. In 2017, Jackson has posted the highest completion percentage of his career at 60.3 percent and is ranked 15th nationally in yards per attempt at 8.8.
Jackson is a dynamic playmaker and possesses unbelievable burst, vision and agility, not just for a quarterback, but for a player at his size. A lot of people are quick to make comparisons about Jackson’s game to Michael Vick, but it’s key to remember that Vick was at least three inches shorter than Louisville’s current star. If Jackson is able to add a bit more bulk to protect his long-term durability, he’ll be even tougher to bring down as a runner.
Overall, Lamar Jackson is likely to be a bit of a project at the NFL level. His playmaking ability is undeniable, but he’ll have to be drafted into a system that allows him to develop at the right pace in order to succeed as a passer.