​Lamar Jackson has spent much of his NFL career challenging conventional ideas about quarterback play, and that pattern makes his recent placement on the NFL Top 100 Players list particularly striking. He landed at No. 69 after two straight years in the top two, marking a 67-spot fall for a two-time MVP who remains one of football’s most electric performers. The drop is sure to provoke debate, and some of it is warranted. Jackson missed time again in 2025, and concerns about durability have become part of the conversation after he sat out at least four games in three of the last five seasons. He has also missed practice time in both the offseason and regular season, which only adds to the questions about his availability.
Still, the No. 69 ranking feels insufficient for a player who has already answered many of the criticisms that once followed him. In 2024, Jackson posted his first 4,000-yard passing season, and last season he led the NFL in yards per completion at 13.3. Those figures matter because they challenge the outdated notion that his strengths lie solely outside the structure of the offense. Jackson has grown more polished from the pocket while continuing to be the most productive rushing quarterback in league history.
With 6,522 career rushing yards, he owns the most rushing yards in NFL history among players who have also thrown for at least 1,000 career passing yards. Even though his rushing yardage, yards per carry, and rushing touchdowns declined in 2025, defenses still must account for his leg speed, his throwing ability, and the strain created when both elements exist on the same snap.
“I expect him to have a big year,” one NFL personnel evaluator said. “This is like a contract year for him coming up.” That expectation could shape Baltimore’s 2026 campaign. Todd Monken is out, and new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle will need to design an offense that maximizes Jackson without overexposing him. The Ravens crave explosive plays, but they also need sustainability, rhythm, and enough protection to keep their franchise quarterback healthy come January.
Jackson’s ranking may sting, yet it also resumes a familiar script. He has faced doubt before. If he stays healthy and Doyle’s system fits his talents, No. 69 might become less about a grating ranking and more about a prompt from the league to Lamar Jackson to respond with an even bigger season.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Lamar Jackson slides 67 spots in the NFL Top 100 player rankings for better SEO.