​Lamar Jackson has reached the point where the debate around him often says more about the standard he has created than the player he still is.The Baltimore Ravens quarterback was revealed at No. 69 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026, a stunning 67-spot drop after spending the previous two years inside the top two. He also landed fifth in ESPN’s survey of executives, coaches, and scouts, behind Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford, and Joe Burrow.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThat combination created a predictable conversation. Jackson has questions to answer as he enters 2026 after injuries limited him last season, and Baltimore is transitioning offensively under new coordinator Declan Doyle. Still, the statistical case for Jackson remains overwhelming, particularly because his value has never been limited to one box-score category. ESPN’s Ben Solak captured it best with one line: “Jackson has gravity.”That gravity is why Jackson still belongs in any conversation about the NFL’s best quarterback. He changes the geometry of the field, forces defenses to prepare for a different sport, and still owns passing efficiency numbers that compare with the best quarterbacks in league history.Jackson’s career passer rating sits at 101.16, second in NFL history behind Aaron Rodgers. That places him ahead of Burrow at 101.11, Mahomes at 100.75, and Russell Wilson at 99.32.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThat number matters because it directly challenges one of the oldest criticisms of Jackson’s game. He has never been merely a runner playing quarterback. He has become one of the most efficient passers the league has seen, and his career rating puts him ahead of two quarterbacks who ranked above him in ESPN’s latest survey. Rankings can be subjective. Efficiency over a career is harder to dismiss.Jackson has produced four seasons with a passer rating of at least 100 in his first eight NFL seasons, tied for the third-most such seasons in league history. Only Rodgers and Wilson have more with five. Jackson is tied with Burrow, Mahomes, and Philip Rivers.That is elite company, and it reinforces the point that Jackson’s passing efficiency has not been an isolated one-year spike. He has repeatedly played at a high level across different offensive structures, supporting casts, and league-wide adjustments. Defenses have had years to adapt to him, yet he has continued to produce efficient passing seasons.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementJackson has recorded 20 games with a passer rating of at least 100 since the start of the 2024 season, third-most in the NFL during that span. Jared Goff leads with 22; Sam Darnold is second with 21; and Jackson sits ahead of Allen (19) and Stafford (18).That matters because it shows Jackson’s high-end efficiency is still current. This is not a résumé argument based only on his MVP seasons or his rushing records. Even during a stretch that included injury interruptions, Jackson still