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NFL quarterback power rankings: AFC North edition

By William Schneiderhan

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 22: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens shakes hands with Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns after the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cleveland 31-15. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 22: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens shakes hands with Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns after the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cleveland 31-15. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JANUARY 11: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens throws against the Tennessee Titans during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JANUARY 11: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens throws against the Tennessee Titans during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

1. Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson: 2019 – 3,127 passing yards, 1,206 rushing yards, 43 Total TD, 6 INT.

Like Mayfield in Cleveland, Lamar Jackson was also a first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He was taken with the last selection in the first round after the Baltimore Ravens made a move to trade up and get him.

Four quarterbacks were taken before Jackson in that draft: Mayfield was the first pick to the Browns, then Sam Darnold was taken third overall (New York Jets), Josh Allen was selected seventh (Buffalo Bills), and Josh Rosen (Arizona Cardinals) went 10th.

Only Jackson and Allen have made it to the playoffs, and Jackson had a breakout season in 2019. He was named the NFL’s MVP, the Ravens had the best record in the league, and he was producing highlight plays at an extraordinary rate.

The reason Jackson heard those four names above called before him is because many scouts and front offices did not think his college style of quarterback play would translate to the NFL. Well, the former Heisman Trophy winner proved them all wrong.

Jackson completed over 66 percent of his throws and his quarterback rating was 113.3. His AV, a stat from pro-football reference that is designed to put a number-value on a player’s season performance, was 25. That number led the NFL.

Pro Football Focus gave him an overall grade of 91.1 and named him the PFF Offensive Player of the Year for 2019.

In his last eight games of the year, Jackson threw for 1,477 yards, ran for 630, and had 29 total scores to one pick. The Ravens won every game.

In short, Jackson was the league’s best player.

dark. Next. NFL quarterback power rankings: NFC East edition

Even with the playoff disaster, the Ravens and Jackson were unbelievable last campaign and look ready for another run in 2020.

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