Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has been one of the best quarterbacks since he entered the league. He led Baltimore to the playoffs and an AFC North Championship in his rookie season while only starting seven games, going 6-1 after taking Joe Flacco’s starting spot, but eventually falling to the at the time the San Diego Chargers in the AFC Wild Card Round.
Since then, Jackson has won two MVP Awards, including one last season, under new OC Todd Monken, after Greg Roman was fired, who’s now the Chargers Offensive Coordinator.
Being the Reigning MVP doesn’t always mean you have to regress the next season, according to CBS Sports Garrett Podell, put Jackson in his “most likely to improve” spot.
“Jackson’s] 24 touchdown passes were only the third most of his career, a total that was highlighted by him becoming the third NFL MVP quarterback since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger without a 1,000-yard rusher or a 1,000-yard receiver,” Podell wrote. “The other two were Pro Football Hall of Famers Brett Favre (1996) and John Elway (1987).”
“There’s a good chance Jackson could have both a 1,000-yard rusher and a pass-catcher with 1,000 receiving yards in 2024. Baltimore signed four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry in free agency this offseason, a back whose 1,167 rushing yards ranked as the second most in the entire NFL in 2023. Three-time Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews is set to return healthy in 2024 after a Week 11 ankle injury against the Cincinnati Bengals derailed his 2023 season. The presence of those two should increase Jackson’s production in 2024.”
CBS’s Garrett Podell is not the only one expecting Lamar Jackson to improve this upcoming season.
Ravens HC John Harbaugh joined “The Adam Jones Podcast” last week and was asked where there can be growth from a player who has achieved so much already.
From a pure football standpoint, there’s always room for growth. And when you step back and you lean into that, you see there are massive opportunities for growth,” Harbaugh said. “That’s just what a growth mindset is. And so, the opportunity is what we’re trying to do with the offense. The throws that he can make. Reactions that he can make. Uncovering a defense. All those types of things that go into it with playing quarterback.”
Ravens new star Running Back Derrick Henry also feels less pressure being on a team with Lamar Jackson, and says it’s a “breath of fresh air not being the center of attention”.
It definitely brings a different aspect, because he [Jackson] is a dual-threat quarterback, and he’s dangerous with his legs just as he is with his arm,” Henry said, via The Athletic. “It’s going to be fun and a breath of fresh air not being the center of attention, knowing that eyes are going to be on him, as well. But I’m just excited to get to work and put the work in out here and let it all come together.”