NFL analyst seemingly forgets Ravens' Lamar Jackson exists after saying division rival has more athletic QB
When you think of the most athletic players at the QB position, not only in the league but in the history of football, Lamar Jackson is on the Mt. Rushmore of those players, if not the best ever. But according to Chris Simms of NBC Sports, the former NFL QB thinks that Justin Fields is […]
When you think of the most athletic players at the QB position, not only in the league but in the history of football, Lamar Jackson is on the Mt. Rushmore of those players, if not the best ever.
But according to Chris Simms of NBC Sports, the former NFL QB thinks that Justin Fields is a better athlete at the position.
Here's why that's wrong, and why Simms will be changing his tune come the end of this season.
Fields More Athletic Than Lamar?
"I think the big thing with Justin Fields is, we've seen growth. We know that he's the greatest athlete at quarterback in the game right now," Simms said on the latest episode of his podcast, Chris Simms Unbuttoned. "I think that's the number one headline. There is nobody that can move and run like Justin Fields, alright? I love his grit, his toughness, right? He lays it on the line to win a football game….He is showing growth as a pocket passer in the NFL, right? But it's still not where you would like it."
Look, I don't know if Lamar was out of sight, out of mind when Simms made the statement given he's likely going to be in the top 5 of Simms' rankings as opposed to 25, but that's blasphemous.
Sure, maybe Fields had more highlight reel-worthy runs in 2024, but that wasn't because Lamar lost a step, it was because the Ravens' new offense emphasized him passing the ball more than ever, something the Bears didn't always trust Fields to do.
And on a down-to-down basis, it's obvious who was still the better and more efficient running QB:
Now look, I would be dishonest if I said Lamar had "flashier" runs than Fields did in 2023, but that could be changing as well.
After coming into the league and being dinged for his size, Jackson added anywhere between 30-50 pounds when comparing his body to his days in college at Louisville.
Well, now he plans on getting back to that level of explosion, but in a stouter physique:
Lamar Jackson looks different this spring. He is intentionally down to 205 pounds — 25 pounds less than his 2022 weight and lower than last season, when he played at 215. The word in Baltimore is this slim Lamar could be even faster than the one we've seen in years past.
–Dianna Russini, The Athletic
I would venture to say that if Lamar makes that big of a difference to his body, he will look as fast if not faster than his first MVP season in 2019, and maybe even his Louisville days, making a lot of people doubting his athleticism left eating their words.
Ravens’ Mark Andrews confirms a suspicion about the AFC Championship game against the Chiefs
The man said it himself.
