Another Ridiculously Bad Take on Lamar Jackson
With all that Lamar Jackson has accomplished in his NFL career, one would think negative hot takes about him have been put to rest.
Apparently not. Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay put the two-time MVP at No. 1 in his ranking of the five most overrated quarterbacks in the league today.
Kay based the rankings on "a combination of factors, including stats, record, contract value and public perception along with the heaviest weight being placed on playoff performances and postseason record."
"Of the 10 players who have joined the multiple MVP club during the Super Bowl era, Jackson is the lone member without a Super Bowl ring," Kay wrote. "All the others — a list that includes Johnny Unitas, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Joe Montana, Steve Young, Kurt Warner and Patrick Mahomes — were able to take their team to multiple Super Bowl appearances and won at least one."
First off, Young was the starter in one Super Bowl, so the above statement is incorrect. Second, Jackson is 28 and still in his prime. Manning didn't win the Super Bowl until he was 30. Young was 33 when he won his.
Regardless, every quarterback in the exclusive multiple-MVP club is either in the Pro Football Hall of Fame or a lock to get there in their first year of eligibility. Labeling any of them overrated, much less the most overrated, is ridiculous. Obviously.
Jackson hasn't just been great in his seven years as a starter; he's been historically great. The best dual-threat quarterback of all time, he's the leader in career passer rating as well as career and single-season rushing yards by a quarterback.
In 2024, Jackson became the first player ever to rush for more than 800 yards and pass for more than 4,000 yards in a season, as well as the first to throw 40 touchdown passes and four or fewer interceptions.
Interestingly, the Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen didn't make Kay's rankings despite never making it to the Super Bowl and having one fewer MVP award (he edged Jackson in the voting last season, even though Jackson was first-team All-Pro) and a lower winning percentage (.689) than Jackson (.730).
It's fair to say it will be disappointing if Jackson never plays in the Super Bowl, but not only is it unfair to call him overrated, it's absurd.