The Athletic's Mike Sando Says Only 'QB Snobs' Would Think Lamar Jackson Isn't Top Tier
Lamar Jackson finally made it into Tier 1 in The Athletic’s annual quarterback tiers, but there is a lingering question about the voting results.
How could four members of the panel of 50 NFL executives and coaches place the two-time MVP in Tier 2, especially with him coming off one of the best statistical seasons for a quarterback in history?
The Athletic's Mike Sando, who compiles the tier rankings, revealed why he thinks Jackson did not join the Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes and Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow as a unanimous Tier 1 quarterback.
Sando noted that the Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen – who received 47 Tier 1 votes – also wasn't a unanimous choice.
"So what does Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson have in common? It's a little bit more reliance on their legs, and there are some QB snobs who really still put so much emphasis on the ability to pass when you have to throw the ball," Sando said on “Glenn Clark Radio.”
Regarding Jackson specifically, the handful of voters who dinged him for his passing ability are off base.
Last season, Jackson became the first quarterback in history to throw 40-plus touchdowns (41) and fewer than five interceptions (five). His 119.6 passer rating was the fourth-highest ever, and he is one of only four quarterbacks to have a passer rating of 113.3 or better in multiple seasons, joining Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees. Jackson is tied with Ben Roethlisberger for the most games (four) with a perfect 158.3 passer rating.
"What more is there to do for him except get a little deeper in the playoffs, which is hard to do in the AFC, last time I checked," Sando said.
Beyond all the individual stats, Jackson is a proven winner, as reflected by his 70-24 (.745) career record as a starter.
"To me, what was most impressive about Lamar Jackson last year and what was totally different than anything he's done before is that they were winning games with a bad defense and bad special teams," Sando said. "Now, they got better late in the year, but to me, that's a huge test for quarterbacks. I think it's really hard to do. It's rare."