The Baltimore Ravens just used the 2021 NFL Draft to help Lamar Jackson. The biggest questioned area of Jackson’s game is the passing game. The Ravens added to the offensive line and spent a first-round pick on a wide receiver. They don’t do that if they don’t believe in Jackson.
The idea that the Ravens wouldn’t believe in Jackson is insanity. Jackson has thrown the ball well for a quarterback whose critics make fun of by calling him a running back. Jackson has actually been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the NFL. He’s got a career passer rating of 102,6 and a career completion percentage of 64.
When the Ravens ask Jackson to pass, it’s not like he’s been throwing one hoppers at the feet of wide receivers. He’s racked up 68 passing touchdowns and he’s had just 18 interceptions. There are a ton of quarterbacks who couldn’t do that in the Ravens’ short history. Jackson has nothing to prove as a quarterback, even if he needs to keep developing his game.
The Ravens have never had any doubts. They started by redesigning offense in the NFL. They didn’t just build an offense around Jackson. That’s happened for a lot of quarterbacks in NFL history.
No, the Ravens changed the way they played and it didn’t resemble any offense in the league. That’s a bold move that only happened because the Ravens get it. Jackson is special.
The Ravens are aware that Jackson doesn’t have the pinpoint accuracy of Drew Brees. Do you want to hear what they did? They drafted Jackson two receivers who are good at making contested catches. They drafted two players with big catch radiuses. Bateman in particular has a chance to be a cheat code for Jackson, the greatest cheat code in the NFL.
Signing Sammy Watkins and Alejandro Villanueva had to be moves okay with Jackson. Pass protection and a veteran pass-catcher are always in vogue with quarterbacks.
If the Ravens didn’t believe in Lamar Jackson they would have just gone crazy on defense. We’ve seen the Ravens do this during the Joe Flacco era. Do you remember the 2017 NFL Draft? That draft was almost a punishment for Joe Flacco. The Ravens drafted two players on offense in the whole class and they were offensive linemen drafted on day three, who ended up doing nothing for the team.
The fact of the matter is that the Ravens are building around Jackson. They’re ready to give Jackson his big contract. They know it’s coming. Eric DeCosta is not waiting to see what happens in the 2021 season. John Harbaugh got his job saved by Jackson. Do you really think he’s tentative on him? Harbaugh has to make the Jackson era work. That’s what his job is tied to right now.
The Ravens have drafted two receivers in four straight years. DeCosta drafted a couple of tight ends too, has he not? Some of those picks didn’t pan out. Some of those picks are still working on it and have untapped potential. The point is, the Ravens have changed their entire philosophy since 2018. The 2021 NFL Draft wasn’t something new. It was a continuation of it.
The Bottom Line:
If Jackson has something to prove, it’s not to the Baltimore Ravens organization. Nothing has given us one clue of a doubt. The facts are that Steve Bisciotti, the owner of the franchise wanted the Ravens to draft Jackson.
The facts are that DeCosta keeps giving Jackson help and we’re still waiting for some of the results. It’s so obvious the Ravens are all in on Lamar Jackson. If he hasn’t won you over, the Ravens don’t even care. Jackson is their franchise quarterback. This draft continues to prove it. This offseason continues to prove it.