Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson being ranked 69th (a 67-spot drop-off from last season) on the NFL's Top 100 list has been much-maligned and rightfully so. Frankly, it's absolutely baffling that a quarterback who is as accomplished and talented as Jackson was ranked so low after one down year due to injuries.
During a recent appearance on The Lounge with Ravens insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing, Minter responded to Jackson's top 100 ranking.
“Look, there may not even be one other player in the league better than Lamar, let alone 68 players in the league better than Lamar. There's nobody we'd rather have as our quarterback," Minter said.Â
Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has a case as the league's best player
Minter's comments are absolutely spot on, and it's great to see that Jackson's coach fully believes in him.Â
We all know that Lamar's Top 100 ranking was ridiculous -- I think even fans of rival teams could admit this, but Lamar might have a strong case as the league's best player. And yes, I know he's only made one conference championship game. But the reality is that the Ravens have never had a roster that fully maximizes Lamar, and they've still had a remarkable amount of success with him under center.Â
In my eyes, Lamar's primary competition for the No. 1 spot would be Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. Maybe you'dargue for a game-changing defensive player like Myles Garret, but quarterbacks impact the game at a higher level. Or maybe you'd argue for Matthew Stafford after his MVP season, but his lack of mobility is a flaw, and he benefits from a great roster around him (though he's still outstanding, to be clear).Â
Mahomes could go down as the best player of all-time when it's all said and done. However, it's fair to wonder what he looks like post-ACL injury. As for Allen, he's obviously also fantastic. He has a great arm and is a powerful runner as well.
Still, Lamar has a higher passer rating and adjusted yards per passing attempt than Allen. In fact, Jackson is the all-time leader in both stats. Time and again, Lamar has been the better regular season quarterback -- he should have won MVP over Allen in 2024 and has generally more signature seasons, including two other MVP seasons.Â
Does Allen's durability and slightly better performances in the playoffs give him the edge? Sure, I think that's fair. My point is, though, that you can make a compelling case that Lamar is the league's best quarterback and maybe, just maybe, the Ravens' new look roster can help Jackson establish himself as the best player in the world.Â
The Baltimore Ravens' revamped roster should help Jackson remind everyone of his greatness
It's vital to note the context around Lamar's career. He's never had a top-tier receiving core or offensive line. And still, he's been one of the most productive QBs in league history. This is why the Ravens' playoff shortcomings don't fall on Jackson's shoulders. Particularly in the last two playoffs, Lamar has done everything possible to put the Ravens in a winning position, and the supporting cast has let him down.Â
With blue-chip first-rounder Vega Ioane and sturdy veteran John Simpson, Lamar should have much more dependable interior protection. The receiving core could be seen as shaky. Thankfully, though, Zay Flowers proved himself as a No. 1 WR last season. Furthermore, with rookies Elijah Sarratt and Ja'Kobi Lane, third-year speedster Devontez Walker, and Rashod Bateman, the Ravens have plenty of intriguing young WRs alongside Zay.Â
New offensive coordinator Declan Doyle is also primed to utilize the passing game more often, something Todd Monken and Greg Roman never did. When it's all said and done, a fully healthy Jackson with a better roster (and system) around him should be poised for a monstrous season.Â
And if everything goes right, he might prove himself as the best player in the league -- at the very least, he'll remind everyone that he's a top-tier player.
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