Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has seen more than his fair share of praise over the years. Aside from his injury and contract troubles, not many have had much to throw in the face of the two-time MVP.
Well, one analyst has the chance to change the narrative.
Speaking on a recent edition of the Stinkin’ Truth Podcast with Mark Schlereth, Schlereth—a three-time Super Bowl champion from his own NFL playing days—took a darker tone with Jackson.
“How many Round 1 WRs do you need to draft? … Your quarterback has a long way to go in developing wide receivers. I don’t want to hear that (expletive) anymore. I’m tired of it,” he said.
He went on to call out Jackson’s playoff production, pressing him to “deliver.”
Of course, the Ravens quarterback was just in the AFC Championship game, bringing the franchise to a level many other teams have not. For instance, the Dallas Cowboys infamously have gone decades from reaching the NFC Championship, despite more than a dozen shots at the postseason.
Additionally, the choice to blame a quarterback for struggling young wide receivers is a rare one.
Lamar Jackson sitting pretty ahead of 2024 NFL season
Many quarterbacks this year are staring down make-or-break seasons.
Josh Allen has something to prove after losing his receivers. Dak Prescott is negotiating a contract. Jared Goff and Trevor Lawrence are aiming to prove that they deserved their new deals.
Jackson, meanwhile, has already proven himself worthy of getting a mega deal.
After getting locked up through the 2027 season, Jackson has gone on to win an MVP and take his team to the AFC Championship. Almost no matter what happens, the quarterback appears to be set up with a long leash. It is rare for calm weather for an NFL quarterback, but it is all sunny skies ahead for Jackson.
Still, a playoff berth and a deep playoff run couldn’t hurt. Jackson’s employment is rock solid and his reputation mostly is in great shape. However, even if he has little to prove this season, the Ravens quarterback has reason to want revenge against Patrick Mahomes for ending his season.
Could revenge be enough of a motivator for Lamar Jackson to pull out every last stop in 2024?
