2018 NFL Draft Profile: Quarterback Lamar Jackson

Here’s the 2018 NFL Draft Profile of quarterback Lamar Jackson out of Louisville breaking down his strengths, weaknesses, video highlights, and a draft day prediction.

If it’s one thing to know about quarterback Lamar Jackson out of Louisville, it’s that he’s a natural born touchdown machine. He’s a dangerous dual-threat quarterback that can burn you through the air or on the ground with his versatility to extend plays at any given moment.

At 6-3 and 211lbs., Jackson has everything a team is looking for in a quarterback that can bring a dynamic presence to their offense. He’ll need some work in order to take his career to the next level but the foundation is there for him to be a threat right from the start when it comes to the most important position on the team.

What does Jackson need to improve on in order to be a top quarterback in the NFL? Let’s take a look at his strengths, weaknesses, video highlights of his solid skill-set, and where he’ll end up getting selected in this year’s draft.

STRENGTHS

Jackson excels in the shotgun position as he’s known to make big plays quickly and if his check downs don’t produce what he’s looking for, will run out the pocket for big gains. His speed is incredible as often times, opposing defenders will underestimate how quickly he can run like there is no tomorrow. In his three years at Louisville, Jackson totaled 9,043 passing yards, 619 completions, 69 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. As a runner, he totaled 4,132 rushing yards, 655 attempts, and 50 touchdowns.

WEAKNESSES

It will take time for Jackson to learn and efficiently run a pro-style offense. His tendency to quickly run out the pocket when receivers are covered could lead him to take a plethora of unnecessary hits just to make a play. His frame makes him elusive to defenders but could question his durability during a full regular season unless he adds one more weight and goes into a strength and conditioning program. He also needs help sharpening his accuracy as at Louisville, Jackson ended with a 57 percent completion rate with the majority of his incomplete passes coming when he was on the run.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

DRAFT DAY PREDICTION

Teams that are looking for a dynamic quarterback that can revitalize an offense as soon as his rookie season will look to Jackson as their future franchise quarterback. The only worry is if he can stay healthy long-term due to his dual-threat style of play but teams know he brings a lot to the table. Expect to see Jackson drafted as a late first-round pick or an early second-round pick.

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