Louisville Football: Is Lamar Jackson a sure-fire franchise quarterback?

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Measurables

Lamar Jackson is listed at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds.

Of the 21 quarterbacks taken in the top 60 picks of the NFL draft since 2012 only three measured shorter than Jackson.

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NFL teams typically favor taller quarterbacks for their ability to better see the field. While Jackson is a dynamic athlete, there is a real possibility that he could have trouble transitioning into a pro-style offense and reading opposing defenses from the pocket.

While Lamar is slightly shorter than the prototypical NFL quarterback the real concern scouts will have is with his weight.

Of the 21 quarterbacks taken in the top 60 picks of the NFL draft since 2012 every single player weighed more than Jackson.

Lamar Jackson is not just small by top quarterback prospect standards, he is small by NFL standards. To put things into context former Louisville Cardinal DeVante Parker is currently listed at 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds, and he plays receiver.

There is not a single starting quarterback in the NFL who plays at 205 pounds. The closest is Drew Brees, who plays at 209 pounds, but is a full three inches shorter than Jackson.

Teams are afraid to invest highly in a quarterback of Lamar’s size because they are perceived to be more susceptible to injury. While Brees has been extremely reliable in his career, starting 223 games in his 16 year NFL career, his career was almost ended on the last game of his fifth season.

Brees damaged his throwing shoulder joint while diving for a fumble and the future of his playing career was far from certain. After multiple surgeries Drew found himself without a team, and no guarantee that he’d ever be back to his previous form.

Obviously Brees eventually did return to his former form after signing a deal with the New Orleans Saints, with offers on the table from the Dolphins and Charger, and the rest is history.

The Saints won the Super Bowl in 2010, a feat that neither the Chargers nor the Dolphins can boast, but had Brees never returned to his former form, his squad could very well be stuck in a perpetual limbo.

While Lamar Jackson has yet to experience any major injuries, some teams will view him as a ticking time bomb. The only true way for Jackson to silence his doubters is to gain weight, but bulking up could affect the speed that makes Jackson such a dynamic prospect.

Lamar Jackson is supremely talented, but if he can’t remain healthy he very well could end up being a “best that never was” story.

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