Ebony Bird
FanSided

Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson is a lot like Deshaun Watson

By Chris Schisler

LEXINGTON, KY - NOVEMBER 25: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Louisville Cardinals throws a pass against the Kentucky Wildcats during the game at Commonwealth Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - NOVEMBER 25: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Louisville Cardinals throws a pass against the Kentucky Wildcats during the game at Commonwealth Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Lamar Jackson has been compared to Michael Vick but the most fair comparison to Jackson might be Deshaun Watson:

Lamar Jackson is an unbelievable athlete and the comparisons to Michael Vick are fair. There is another player Jackson has a lot in common with, a name that he gets linked to a lot less: Deshaun Watson. Watson was drafted in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans. Like Jackson he fell deeper in the first round than his talent level and resume should have allowed. Before getting hurt seven games in Watson was taking the NFL by storm.

Jackson is 6’2″ and weighs 216 pounds. Watson is 6’2″ and is listed at 221 pounds. Both players have great arm talent and unbelievable quickness. Jackson is even faster than Watson, a thought that will keep defensive coordinators shivering in the film room. Both players played the same style of football in college and were the two most exciting players the NCAA had to offer.

Watson was coming off a national championship game where he outdid the mighty Alabama Crimson Tide. It was Watson’s second chance to play Alabama in the National Championship and this time he stole the show and the victory. Watson went 12th overall in 2017.

Teams Passed on them for the same reasons:

The Cleveland Browns waited until the second round to pick DeShone Kizer. The Chicago Bears took Mitchell Trubisky with the second overall pick. The Kansas City Chiefs made a massive trade to get to the 10th pick and take Patrick Mahomes. Watson was the most experienced, he was a winner and he was the third quarterback taken.

Must Read: Why Joe Flacco will have a bounce back year

Jackson was the fifth and final quarterback taken in the 1st round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Baker Mayfield went number one overall to the Browns, because the Browns passed on Watson the year prior. The New York Jets got Sam Darnold, the Arizona Cardinals landed Josh Rosen, while the Bills went with Josh Allen. Both Watson and Jackson got passed on too many times and for the same reasons.

Watson was considered a project. The narrative was that despite being a big game player with obvious talent, he wasn’t ready for the NFL. Watson was a runner and you know the rest. You know the rest because the same things were said about Jackson.

Watson proved them wrong:

In week 2 Watson got a chance to start. Watson started off slow as a passer but was building an incredible season by the time he got hurt. He ended up having a game with over 400 yards passing against the Seattle Seahawks. In seven games Watson completed over 60 percent of his passes, racked up 1,699 passing yards and had eight touchdown passes. Wait a second, I thought he wasn’t ready for the NFL, right?

Next: Lamar Jackson: 3 mistakes the Ravens could make with him

Watson wasn’t supposed to get such an early start to his time being the guy with the Texans. He was just the most exciting player to ever be put on a bench and the Texans had no choice. It was on the way to working out. Who knows, Jackson may be forced into the action earlier than expected. Many people think Jackson isn’t ready, but many people thought the same thing about Watson.

Home/Ravens News