4 NFL QBs who are currently better than Lamar Jackson feat. Jalen Hurts
Lamar Jackson is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL. He has an MVP and a proven track record of winning at a consistently high pace. However, he's not the best quarterback. The biggest things working against him are his reliability and his arm.
While his accuracy has gotten better over the years at an anecdotal level, his last two years have been his worst simply due to his inability to be available in December and January. The best ability is availability, and if a quarterback can't stay on the field, everything else comes second.
That said, it is likely that two-thirds of teams in the league would swap their quarterback for Jackson if it was a one-to-one move. However, four teams would be comfortable letting such an offer expire. Here's a look at four quarterbacks ranked above No. 8.
#1 - Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs)
This one's a given. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback has two Super Bowls and an MVP under his belt. Despite seeing his best receiver shipped away in Tyreek Hill, he posted 41 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2022.
Some give Travis Kelce and Andy Reid a chunk of the credit, but we've seen both reach lower ceilings with Alex Smith. At this point, no quarterback in the league ranks higher than the reigning MVP.
Tense moment in the Ravens' pre-draft press conference when a question mentioned Lamar Jackson, as it appears the media was sternly reminded not to mention the quarterback by the team https://t.co/BznJOfs98k
It's not just this year, either. Going back to his starting season in 2018, he's dominated the league at a Tom Brady clip with better throwing stats than No. 12's first five years. In total, he boasts a nearly 4:1 touchdown-interception ratio for his career.
#2 - Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals)
Joe Burrow might be the only quarterback that can beat Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs. He's also reached a Super Bowl, whereas Lamar Jackson has not. Burrow does carry a bit of injury concerns, due to missing most of his rookie year, but he's been squeaky clean since then.
"If you're the Bengals, isn't it worth the extra $20M premium to give Joe Burrow a fully guaranteed deal — to make sure your biggest divisional rival loses their QB? How much money is it worth to the Bengals for Lamar Jackson to not be playing in the AFC North?" — @getnickwright https://t.co/eYIQQIWxF5
He's thrown for 82 touchdowns and 31 interceptions in his career. While he doesn't have Jackson's legs, the Ravens quarterback doesn't have Burrow's arm. Despite a rise in mobile quarterback runs in the last decade across the league In 2023, arms still trump legs at the position.
#3 - Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles)
Jalen Hurts doesn't have the same number of years under his belt that No. 8 has, but Hurts' flame is burning brighter in 2023. Coming off a Super Bowl appearance and breakout season, most would put him on a greater trajectory in 2023 than No. 8.
While Jackson has been sitting on the sidelines and talking about money, the Eagles quarterback is boasting career-high numbers through the air. He also has an ability to scramble that comes close to No. 8's spark as a bonus. He rushed for 760 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2022.
#4- Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills)
The Bills quarterback didn't have the prettiest season of his career in 2022, and some might argue that No. 8 is actually better. However, Allen has the edge simply due to his availability. Do you want to have 90 percent of Lamar Jackson every game or 100 percent of the quarterback in 75 percent of the games? The comparison between the two is simply asking that question.
Since 2020, he's thrown for about 110 touchdowns and 40 interceptions. Over that same span, the Ravens quarterback has thrown for about 60 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. At face value, Allen trounces Jackson. However, Allen also has Stefon Diggs, Gabriel Davis, and a seemingly long list of backup receivers who take turns stepping up in big moments.
While the comparison is closer than it seems, it's going to take a fully productive season from No. 8 to trend up in the rankings next season. Otherwise, he'll continue to slip.