2018 NFL Draft: Lamar Jackson Drafted by the Baltimore Ravens

After months and months of speculation, we finally know where Lamar Jackson will call home in the NFL.

There wasn’t a more dynamic and intriguing prospect throughout the entirety of the 2018 NFL draft process. Everything Jackson did and said was scrutinized, but nothing more so than his play on the field. The process started shortly after the former Heisman trophy winner declared for the Draft back in January, with Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay both declaring that Jackson would need to play wide receiver in order to succeed in the NFL.

That debate went on for months, but became more focused on the odd decision making of Jackson after he announced he wouldn’t be hiring an agent.

Jackson would go on and throw well at the NFL Combine, while deciding not to run the 40 yard dash which unfortunately sparked some controversy, and at his Pro Day (again deciding not to run). Talk swirled that Jackson was rising up draft boards, but GM’s/Scouts were concerned that they couldn’t get a hold of him.

Down the stretch it become very apparent that Lamar would be a first round pick, and tonight that all came into fruition as the Baltimore Ravens rafted Jackson with the final pick in the round, trading back in with the Philadelphia Eagles to select him.

Through the months leading up to the draft, Jackson was compared to the other four quarterbacks, Josh Alen, Josh Rosen, Baker Mayfield, and Sam Darnold, who were expected to go in the first round. Jackson was the last of the group to be drafted. It was hard to watch at times as multiple teams, who reportedly had significant interest in drafting Jackson, called the names of other players.

But it was the Ravens, who many thought would take Jackson at 16, who traded back into the first round after many expected them to be finished for the night after drafting South Carolina Tight End Hayden Hurst.

Even after slipping 10 or so picks further than experts thought he might, Jackson never lost his composure in the green room as he waited for his name to be called, and the moment it finally was, you could see the look of motivation and determination in his eyes.

During his interview moments after being selected by the Ravens, Jackson told NFL Network’s Deion Sanders what he was going to bring to Baltimore..

"“All year, every year. I’m happy to be a Raven. It don’t matter. They’re gonna get a Super Bowl out of me—believe that.”"

The three year starter for the Louisville football program will have his work cut out for him, as he goes to a team with established starter and former Superbowl winning QB Joe Flacco, along with newly signed Robert Griffin III and former Patriot Ryan Mallett already on the roster. Jackson will serve as a backup to Joe Flacco, and maybe even RGIII throughout the season as he learns a new system and gets his body adjusted to playing in the NFL, but don’t be suprised if the Ravens create a package of plays to use his unique athleticism from day one.

Jackson’s game changing speed could serve as a decoy for the Ravens in certain plays, and also could be used in certain situations with the ball. However, the Ravens absoulltely see Jackson as their quarterback of the future, and have zero plans to make any position changes. Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh told the Ravens Official website,

"“He’s a quarterback through and through, and he’s a playmaker,” “When you look at stats and you evaluate him, he does all the things that any quarterback does. But we do some analytics and when the ball is in his hands, there hadn’t been a better playmaker, really, in the last few years coming out [of the draft]. He’s a great quarterback.”"

The Ravens are getting a special and in my opinion a once in a generation type player. We all know that Lamar Jackson is a Heisman Trophy winner, who essentially rewrote the college football and Louisville football record books with 9,043 passing yards, and 69 passing touchdowns while gaining 4,132 yards on the ground and scoring another 50 touchdowns with his legs during his career at Louisville.

I know one thing for certain after last nights draft.. I wouldn’t want to be the 31 other teams in the NFL… Good luck stopping this guy.

Next: Final NFL Draft Projections for Louisville Football First-Rounders

Ravens rookies Hayden Hurst and Lamar Jackson are scheduled to meet with the Baltimore media today at 2:00 PM.