Lamar Jackson needs an agent in the worst way

Lamar Jackson’s decision to not hire an agent could hurt the quarterback as he works out and prepares for next month’s NFL draft.

Lamar Jackson is a Heisman trophy winner, and over the past two seasons he has been the most electric player in the country at Louisville. This year, he decided to enter the NFL Draft, setting himself up for a life-changing payday.

However, Jackson did so with the curious decision of not hiring an agent. Now it seems that decision is hampering his ability to show off his talent. NFL Network’s Albert Breer tweeted on Thursday that the star quarterback’s decision is making it hard for teams to set up workouts.

Jackson is at Louisville on Thursday, giving scouts a look at the school’s pro day. There will be representatives there from every NFL team, and no prospect is more polarizing in this draft than Jackson.

Some, like ESPN’s Bill Polian, believe that Jackson has no business playing quarterback and would be best served playing wide receiver. Others, including myself, believe that Jackson is a quarterback and should be drafted as such. My thoughts on why can be found here. 

Still, it is a mistake for Jackson to not hire an agent. While others benefit from the process, this could hurt Jackson.  As a player that is going to need to prove his ability to some of these teams, he should be doing everything in his power to get in front of decision-makers. Agents are the ones setting up private workouts and official visits. Jackson’s lack of one will hinder that ability.

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All told, Jackson’s stats are eye-popping. The past two seasons he has shown everything you could want to see from a quarterback, including improved accuracy. His progression, shall it remain linear, will excite teams. It only takes one front office to believe in his talents and get a player who could be a star.