Stephen A. Smith predicts even less passing from Lamar Jackson after throwing for 24 touchdowns in 2023
Lamar Jackson won his second league MVP last season after setting career-highs in completion percentage (67.2) and passing yards (3,678) while leading the Baltimore Ravens to the AFC Championship game.
While he set a career-high in passing yards, Jackson threw just 24 touchdown passes last year, which was the 12th-most in the league. He did add 821 rushing yards, which is the third-most of any season in his career.
After another MVP campaign last season, ESPN 'First Take' host Stephen A. Smith thinks Jackson will throw even fewer touchdown passes this season. Speaking with Shannon Sharpe about who will be more productive this season, Smith thinks it will be Patrick Mahomes due to Derrick Henry taking some load off of Jackon's shoulders in the Ravens backfield.
"I think it's going to be Mahomes. I think it's going to be Mahomes, first of all by default because Lamar has got Derrick Henry. Now you got that bell cow to handball to, Shannon. So you're going to give it to that big boy. You understand what I'm saying. Save me. Run. You know I'm going to run the ball. You going to run the ball I don't think they're going to need to pass as much as they have or they were doing last year, whatever," Smith said.
24 touchdown passes isn't the most, but Lamar Jackson has only surpassed 24 touchdown passes in three of his six seasons in the NFL.
Lamar Jackson responds to being included in Peyton Manning and Tom Brady's top-five current quarterback list
At the Fanatics Fest this weekend, NFL quarterback legends Tom Brady and Peyton Manning were asked who they think are the top-five quarterbacks in the NFL today.
Both Manning and Brady included Lamar Jackson on their lists. After practice on Monday, Jackson was asked what his reaction was to being recognized by two of the best ever.
“That’s crazy. That’s dope, especially coming from those guys. “Those [are] guys who [are] on top of the Mount Rushmore [of quarterbacks] right now, for me at least. That’s great – that’s great to hear that from the GOATs,” Jackson said, via Baltimore Beatdown.
Since entering the league, Lamar Jackson has been named to three Pro Bowls, two First-Team All-Pros, and MVP twice. He's thrown for 15,887 passing yards, 125 touchdowns, 45 interceptions, and has rushed for 5,258 yards and 29 touchdowns.
However, he needs to elevate his post-season success as he currently has a 2-4 playoff record in his career.