Ravens: Lamar Jackson ranked best player under 25 by CBS Sports
On Thursday, CBS Sports writer Cody Benjamin kept the annual tradition at the network alive by ranking the top 25 NFL players under 25. The Baltimore Ravens had one player make the list in 2021.
Not only did this player make the list, but he was also ranked as the No. 1 player under the age of 25 in the entire NFL. That honor goes to quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Jackson, 24, has taken the league by storm since his debut in 2018. He has been the best player on the team and recognized as possibly the greatest running quarterback in NFL history.
In 2020, Jackson started 15 of 16 games and had a quarterback passer rating of 73.7 (seventh overall).
The rating is down from what it was in 2019 (83.0, first-overall), but not terrible for a quarterback who likes to run the ball. Jackson completed 64 percent of his passes and threw for 2,757 yards and 26 touchdowns through the air in 2020.
What Jackson did with his feet, however, was more impressive. Jackson had 159 rushing attempts, averaging 67.0 yards per game, and gained a total of 1,005 yards on the ground.
This is the second time in his three-year career that he rushed for over 1,000 yards in a single season. Jackson also scored seven rushing touchdowns.
This isn’t the first time that Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has made this list
Lamar Jackson is no stranger to the list. He finds himself making the cut for the second consecutive year. At age 23 in 2020, Jackson was ranked No. 2, only behind Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (24).
Jackson’s best season came in 2019. Not only did he lead the Ravens to a franchise-best 14-2 record, but he surpassed Michael Vick for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a season by Week 15.
The former Heisman Trophy winner later became recognized as the best player in the league after becoming the unanimous NFL MVP at the conclusion of the season.
Unfortunately, Jackson will not be eligible for the list next year as the star quarterback will turn 25 in January. The NFL star will certainly add more accomplishments to his already impressive resume in the near future.
Jackson has thrived off naysayers throughout his college and pro career. Don’t take his success for granted.
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Even if you’re a critic, appreciate the greatness that he provides on the football field. It’s highly unlikely his multi-faceted success will ever be duplicated.