Some narratives refuse to die. No matter how many highlight throws Lamar Jackson makes or how many defenses he dissects from the pocket, conversations about the Baltimore Ravens quarterback almost always begin the same way.
People typically choose one of three routes. They discredit him for his brilliance and limit conversations to postseason success. If they don’t do that, the discussion shifts to injuries or his contract. Then again, they could shift to conversations about his dual-threat ability. Hey, at least in those instances, everything is complementary.
He’s one of the greatest running quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen. He’s the continued evolution of Randall Cunningham, Steve McNair, and Michael Vick, but even in that, pundits sometimes ignore something: his arm.
Lamar Jackson has become one of football’s most complete passers
Jackson’s evolution as a passer has been one of the NFL’s most remarkable success stories. Early in his career, critics questioned whether he could consistently beat defenses from the pocket. Today, defensive coordinators have a very different problem. They know he can, and they often struggle to stop him.
While Jackson’s overall passing grade dipped from his extraordinary 2024 campaign, many of the traits that define elite quarterback play never disappeared. He’s still phenomenal against the blitz and stellar on play-action designs. Even more impressive, Jackson continued attacking the most difficult and valuable areas of the field, earning elite marks on intermediate throws between the numbers and deep passes over the middle.
Those aren’t the numbers of a quarterback surviving because of athleticism. Those are the numbers of a quarterback winning with timing, anticipation, and precision. They also happen to be some of the toughest throws in football.
His legs simply make everything else harder to defend. That’s what makes Jackson such a unique challenge. Defenses can’t simply prepare for his passing because they must constantly account for his mobility.
They can’t blitz recklessly because few quarterbacks recognize and exploit pressure better. Every defensive answer creates another question. It’s why Baltimore’s offense has remained so difficult to defend regardless of coordinator or scheme. Jackson doesn’t just force opponents to defend the entire field. He forces them to defend every possible outcome on every snap. That’s exciting news for the new offensive coordinator, Declan Doyle
The Ravens enter 2026, introducing another offensive coordinator, but Declan Doyle inherits something most play callers never experience. He doesn’t have to teach Lamar Jackson how to become an elite passer. He simply has to create opportunities for one.
Jackson’s ability to attack pressure, exploit play-action concepts, and consistently deliver throws over the middle gives Doyle enormous flexibility as he installs a new offense. Add Jackson’s dynamic rushing ability to that equation, and Baltimore again possesses one of football’s most dangerous offensive foundations.
For years, Lamar Jackson has been labeled the NFL’s greatest running quarterback. That’s certainly part of the story. The other part deserves just as much attention. The Ravens aren’t winning simply because their quarterback can run. They’re winning because opposing defenses still haven’t figured out how to stop him from throwing, either.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Why Lamar Jackson is far more than the NFL’s best running QB
