In 2018 the New England Patriots selcted Isaiah Wynn with the 23rd overall pick in the NFL draft. The Pats used a pick acquired from the LA Rams in the Brandon Cooks trade, passing on Louisville's Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jakson who was available..
Lamar Jackson, the youngest Heisman Trophy winner ever, was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 32nd pick in the 2018 NFL draft. He watched four quarterbacks go before him and then watched argueably the greatest NFL coach of all-time pass on him and select a lineman who would eventually blow out his achilles, miss his first season and then come back and turn out to be less than spectacular. To add insult to injury Jackson would also pay New England back by becoming the youngest quarterback to beat Belichick in 15 years. Oh Yeah, the Pats were also 8-0 at that time.
Jackson was making his case for his MVP candidacy which he would eventually turn into a reality. During his 2019 MVP season Jackson had two games with a perfect passer rating. He was the only unanimous MVP decision, besides non other than Mr. Tom Brady (2010). Jackson had 36 passing TD's and seven on the ground. Jackson threw for 3,127 yards, rushed for 1,206 yards and achieved a 113.3 passer rating. Jackson's passer rating exceeded the average rating of an MVP quarterback (107.8) futher soldifying his right to the crown.
Jackson has had a better start to his NFL career than the four quarterbacks selected ahead of him, Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen (who have earned tripps to the playoffs in 2020) Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen. Jackson owns the best record as a starter, best passer rating, best TD-INT ratio and clear on the most rushing yards. Jackson also made the post season in 2019 but couldnt get the victory vs the Titans. Thei year Jackson, Allen and Mayfield have earned a trip to the playoffs (jackson and Allen gettingtheir first post season wins and Mayfield playing on Sunday Night vs the steelers).
So now Jackson has really silenced the nay sayers. The knock was he couldnt get that big win in the post season. Today hjackson lead his Ravens to a 20-13 Wild-Card round victory over the Tennessee Titans, in Nashville.Oh yeah, this Titan's team had some Patriots influence with Vrable, Butler and Gotskowski. Eventhough Jackson's MVP season was in 2019, this playff win definitley valdiates his MVP crown. Also, any Patriots fans that were dismissing the non-draft choice of Jackson due to his inability to win a playoff game have to now recognize what a collasal miss this was for the franchise. After the departuer of the G.O.A.T. left a gapping whole in the Patriots organization and in the hearts of the fans, the dynamic ability of Jackson would have definitely softened the blow and maybe led the Pats to a better 2020 season.
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