This season Lamar Jackson could be labeled as the “Aaron Judge of the NFL.” The former Louisville breakout star could not come to a contract agreement with the Baltimore Ravens over the off-season. But instead of holding out and demanding his money, he decided to bet on himself and play out the season. From the world’s point of view, his bet is paying off. As of right now, he is leading the league in passing touchdowns with 10 and the highest passer rating of 119.0. Aaron Judge is also having a historic season and could break the bank of any Owner in Major League Baseball if he desired.
The decision to bet on yourself seems to be a new trend. In the past, players would hold out, demand their money, and if they did not receive what they wanted or what they thought they were worth, then they would request a trade. But Lamar and Aaron have started a new trend in this way, and it is exciting to watch these two incredible athletes compete at the highest level and have the kind of success they are having.
Lamar is proving his worth and his dollar amount is on pace to rise with every game he’s on the field. His 2022 campaign is looking very reminiscent of his 2019 campaign when he was voted the league’s Most Valuable Player unanimously. In 2019, he threw for over 3,000 years and almost 40 touchdowns, while rushing for seven touchdowns and over 1,200 yards. In each of the two seasons, Lamar has come out in the first three weeks guns blazing and taking the league by storm.
The more success he has, the more the world sees that he is such an amazing human both on and off the field, and the more he is understood why he is the pride and joy of the Louisville football program. He is still playing in the NFL on his rookie contract, but he already has his own street named after him. Lamar continues to break the “common mold of a quarterback” and is proving why he should be taken seriously in both the passing game and the running game.