Lamar Jackson: The Elite NFL Quarterback Overlooked by Bookmakers
Image Credit: All-Pro Reels
Lamar Jackson is an elite NFL quarterback and one of the best in the league today. He is coming off a great season with the Baltimore Ravens, where Jackson secured the Most Valuable Player of the Year award. Going into this year, Jackson will be looking to go back-to-back and secure his third MVP award. Bookmakers overlook the quarterback as Jackson enters the season with 13/1 odds.
The Career of Lamar Jackson
Jackson was drafted by Baltimore in 2018 with the 32nd overall pick. It is safe to say that the Ravens made the right choice, as the 27-year-old has developed into a fantastic player who can significantly improve a franchise. Jackson won his first MVP award in 2019 and has been a top-10 quarterback in the NFL since then. His career is impressive to date because he has been the focal point of the Baltimore offence. The evidence for this is that the team's offensive scheme heavily relies on their rushing ability. As mentioned before, Jackson is coming off a 2023 MVP award and led the Ravens to the conference championship, where they narrowly lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. It will be interesting to see how 2024 unfolds for the superstar.
What Makes Him Great
Jackson is a fantastic player who is only 27, meaning he can dominate the league for many years to come. One of his best attributes is his ability to run with the ball. He causes a lot of trouble for defences because Jackson can move the ball efficiently through the air and beat them on the ground. Last year, he passed for over 3,500 yards and 24 touchdowns. Furthermore, his completion rate was over 60%, as the quarterback consistently found open receivers throughout the year. A significant factor in determining whether a quarterback is elite is their ability to perform under pressure, and throughout his career, Jackson has proven he can do just that.
The Future
There is no reason why Baltimore can't go all the way this year, as they were arguably the best team throughout the 2023 season. However, time is on the franchise's side, as Jackson has many more years in the league to secure a Super Bowl ring. It is easy to envision many more MVP awards and achievements in his future. Jackson is an absolute superstar who is entertaining to watch on the football field. It will be fascinating to see how Jackson and Baltimore perform next year, as they are genuine Super Bowl contenders.
Do you love sport? Checkout the rest of Expansive Sports we cover sports like rugby, football, and motorsport. If you fancy it, give us a follow on X, Instagram, and TikTok.