Cleveland is really lucky that they don't have to consider this guy at all. They will already have their guy way before this guy gets picked...unless some other GM loses his mind.Bold prediction: Cleveland drafts Lamar Jackson and Hue Jackson deploys a 2 QB backfield.
In conversations with scout, NFL Draft Scout's Dane Brugler has not spoken with one evaluator who believes Louisville QB Lamar Jackson needs to transition to WR.
This idea that sprouted from an anonymous NFL source will continue to get cited, but it is becoming more and more clear those that believe Jackson needs to switch positions in order to have any chance are in the minority. Jackson should be drafted as a quarterback with a chance to improve his game.
Source: Billy M on Twitter
Jan 8 - 11:10 AM
Is the guy that drafted Geno Smith still working as a GM?He'll run around. Win some games early as against other weak teams and then DCs will remember how to play defense against that. Usually takes 6 games before a good DC game plans to stop the running and forces him to pass. Or of course he gets broken in 2 since he's only 205 lbs. Then it all falls apart. Then the GM gets fired and they start over.
So what dummy GM takes this guy?
Probably. Most continue to get recycled. Philbin just completed 2 stints destroying whatever he got his hands on and the Packers took him back.Is the guy that drafted Geno Smith still working as a GM?
Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
Rank: #43
Jackson has been the most dynamic playmaker in college football for the last two seasons, operating out of the shotgun in the Cardinals' offense. He has a lean, narrow frame. He has quick feet in his setup and he bounces on his toes once he gets to the top of his drop. He throws with a very narrow base. He generates tremendous velocity despite flipping the ball and failing to generate any power or torque from his lower half. He's more accurate/consistent on in-breaking routes and over-the-top touch throws. His accuracy suffers when he has to drive the ball outside the numbers. He is too stiff on his front leg and the ball sails on him. His pocket presence has improved over the last year and he excels avoiding unblocked rushers. He's the most electric runner at the position to enter the NFL in the last decade. On designed QB runs, he's very elusive and slithery. Overall, Jackson needs time to work out some mechanical issues, but his playmaking ability is special.
I have to say... so what? This is icing, it isn't the cake.He's the most electric runner at the position to enter the NFL in the last decade
In an age where offensive line blocking is for ####, this ability isn't for nothing.I have to say... so what? This is icing, it isn't the cake.
It sure as hell can be in fantasy. Nothing better than a QB who can throw for 160 yards and a TD and still have a 25 point game because of his legs. He may never be a great real life QB, but to overlook his potential as a fantasy QB is short sighted.I have to say... so what? This is icing, it isn't the cake.
IMO he won't make it as a long term NFL starting QB. I see RGIII, not Wilson or Vick.It sure as hell can be in fantasy. Nothing better than a QB who can throw for 160 yards and a TD and still have a 25 point game because of his legs. He may never be a great real life QB, but to overlook his potential as a fantasy QB is short sighted.
NFL Media's Bucky Brooks ranked Louisville QB Lamar Jackson over Wyoming QB Josh Allen in his initial list of the position.
The Louisville product sits at No. 4, and Allen at No. 5. "Jackson is the wild card of the group as an electric playmaker with a run-first game," Brooks writes. We don't totally agree with the run-first label. Yes, Jackson had more carries than passes in college, but those figures shifted during his final season of college ball when Jackson took big strides forward. There were plenty of occasions where Jackson hangs in the pocket looking for an open receiver, then destroys the defense on the ground when space creates. He's a true big play threat.
Source: NFL.com
Feb 8 - 11:03 AM
Louisville had among the worst drop percentage in the country the last three years. Some guy on Twitter posted completion percentages adjusted for drops:How good is Jackson's WR corps and O-line? Trying to figure out if there's any excuses for his low completion percentage.
Appearing on the Rotoworld Football Podcast, Matt Waldman believes Louisville QB Lamar Jackson is "Michael Vick with a better understanding of the pocket, of his footwork, of his reads and of his decision making."
Waldman adds Jackson has better accuracy than Vick coming out of school. Yes, that is high praise and honestly we can't talk about Vick as a prospect since that draft class was so long ago, but Waldman certainly can. Vick had a long way to go and progressed quite a bit once reaching the NFL, and Jackson can do the same thing. The highlights show Jackson as a lethal runner, and he is. But Jackson's game always starts in the pocket and displays passing traits that should get everyone excited.
Source: Josh Norris on Twitter
Feb 15 - 9:42 AM
Wouldn’t surprise me if someone traded into the late first and grabbed him. I’m grabbing him in as many dynasties as I can.I really like this guy and I am a bit surprised that he hasn't been mocked as a 1st round pick. He seems to have some special traits such as his mobility that merits consideration.
Is the guy that drafted Geno Smith still working as a GM?
Idzik was hired as a salary cap consultant by the Jacksonville Jaguars on February 25, 2015.
Pro Football Focus notes that Lamar Jackson had 8.6 percent of his passes dropped in 2017.
That's the highest percentage of passes dropped by any of the "big 6" quarterbacks; which are made up of Jackson, USC's Sam Darnold, UCLA's Josh Rosen, Wyoming's Josh Allen and Oklahoma State's Mason Rudolph. Darnold had the lowest percentage with just 3.9 percent of his passes dropped. It's worth noting that one of the criticism's of Jackson is that he doesn't always show great touch on the ball, so some of those drops could be passes that were zoomed in when they could have been thrown with a bit more loft. That's nitpicking, however, and it shows that Jackson's completion percentage should have been considerably higher in 2017.
Source: Pro Football Focus on Twitter
Feb 17 - 6:45 PM
Funny that nobody has asked Josh Allen to change positions.Have teams asked Jackson to change positions or is this all coming from draft experts?
Funny that nobody has asked Josh Allen to change positions.
When did someone say that white QBs aren't asked to move?Stop saying white QBs aren't asked to move. That's a lie. Tim Tebow was asked to move to TE. Tebow went on to win a big playoff game at QB. And the NFL still ran him out of the league. So maybe he should have moved to TE. And not that Edelman was a sought after QB, but he was asked to move to WR. Several rings later it seems like it was a smart move. Scott Frost was moved to safety. Eric Crouch tried to move. Matt Jones was moved to WR. I'm sure there are others.
It's not a black/white thing. It's an athleticism thing. Athletic QBs that have their throwing skills questioned are always going to get these opinions. It's better than being told they have no chance in the NFL, or that they don't have the brains to play QB like happened 25 years ago.
I think Jackson should try QB in the NFL. He's fun to watch and with some footwork coaching he could improve his accuracy. After all those years playing QB I can't imagine giving it up without a fight.
DARN good question. My guess is no. Any team thinking about him at WR is probably thinking that some team that is thinking about him at QB will take him earlier than THEY would, so how much time do they wanna spend on this idea of a conversion?Have teams asked Jackson to change positions or is this all coming from draft experts?
It’s you that’s all about accuracy and completion percentage.Because he’s such a threat in the open field? That is funny.
It’s you that’s all about accuracy and completion percentage.