Ravens trade back into 1st round to grab Lamar Jackson
The Baltimore Ravens have selected quarterback Lamar Jackson out of Louisville with the 32nd overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.
It looked as though the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner wouldn't hear his name called in the opening round, but the Ravens made a last-second trade to acquire the 32nd pick from the Eagles to select the electric pivot.
Jackson is among the most exciting college quarterbacks in recent memory, piling up over 7,200 yards passing and 3,172 rushing yards the past two seasons while contributing to 96 touchdowns.
It will be interesting to see what the Ravens do at the quarterback position after the selection of Jackson, as both long-time starter Joe Flacco and Robert Griffin III are under contract with the club.
Lamar Jackson Bio
Position: QB
School: Louisville
College Experience: Junior
Height: 6-3
Weight: 200 lbs
Strengths
- A rare athlete with unreal straight-line speed and agility.
- Playmaker. Can create explosive plays with both his arm and his legs.
- Ascending passer. Clearly opted to stay in the pocket more in 2017 to prove himself as a thrower.
- Great toughness. Willing to stand tall in the pocket and take a shot.
- Excels when the play breaks down and he can improvise.
Weaknesses
- Could be at a greater risk of injury due to his slender frame and playing style.
- Misses routine throws and accuracy can be spotty.
- Subpar footwork leads to inaccuracy. Needs to improve narrow base when throwing from the pocket.
- Inconsistent pocket presence. Can allow eyes to drop and runs into pressure.