Lamar Jackson 2018 Outlook
Giving up a second-round pick in 2019 to get Jackson was not an overly risky play. As NFL.com noted, Jackson appears to have great upside and he's under no pressure to play in 2018. Indeed, GM Eric DeCosta, who replaces Ozzie Newsome, reiterated his strong belief in Joe Flacco, saying he's one of the best picks the Ravens have ever made. Flacco led them to a victory in Super Bowl XLVII, and the Ravens feel he can return to that level, especially with the help they've added this offseason. But Baltimore has also seen the shift in the NFL toward more mobile quarterbacks, and it's alluring. DeCosta said the Ravens' experience with super-athletic Tyrod Taylor (who backed up Flacco from 2011-2014) also shaped their thinking. A big question regarding Jackson was whether his unique playing style will translate to the NFL. Baltimore has coaches who have seen it work, and could give a more valuable assessment. OC Marty Mornhinweg and QBs Coach James Urban helped Michael Vick have his best season in 2010 in Philadelphia. Urban also coached Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, who moves around the pocket and scrambles. Assistant HC Greg Roman worked with Colin Kaepernick in San Francisco. The Ravens also fell in love with what everybody loves about Jackson -- his undeniable playmaking ability. At some point, most likely next season, Flacco is going to give way to that.
