Full Breakdown
Lamar Jackson’s Plunge to No. 69 on the NFL Top 100 Raises Questions
7/15/2026, 12:57:21 PM
Ranking Drop Sparks Outcry
The NFL Top 100, voted on by active players, placed Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson at No. 69 for the 2025 list, a fall from No. 2 in each of the two prior years. The shift follows a season in which Jackson started only 13 games, missed two entirely, and dealt with recurring lower-leg injuries. Despite posting 2,549 passing yards, 21 touchdowns and a 103.8 passer rating—higher than his 2023 MVP campaign—his ranking fell outside the top half, prompting criticism that the drop is “disrespectful” and “excusable.”
Season Performance and Injuries
Jackson’s 2025 campaign was marred by injuries that limited his mobility and forced him to miss key moments. He still led the Ravens to a potential third straight AFC North title, engineering two fourth-quarter go-ahead drives in Week 18 before a missed rookie kicker field goal ended the game. Comparisons were drawn to Patrick Mahomes, who threw only one more touchdown but missed the final stretch due to a torn ACL.
Offensive Line Overhaul
Analysts highlighted the Ravens’ offensive line as a primary factor in Jackson’s sack total (36, two shy of his career high). General manager Eric DeCosta responded by signing veteran guard John Simpson and drafting rookie Olaivavega Ioane (No. 14, 2026 NFL Draft). Head coach Jesse Minter added offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford and new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, aiming to improve protection and run-game tenacity.
Voices from Players and Analysts
- “He can do everything from anywhere,” Zay Flowers, Ravens wide receiver, said. “In the pocket, running, if that’s not a threat, I don’t know what is.”
- “He loves his tight ends, he loves his targets downfield…you realize that you can’t catch him, that person can’t catch him,” Eric Kendricks, veteran linebacker, observed.
- “My favorite thing is being able to watch him on the sideline and glad I’m not chasing him…A lot of people said he’s not quarterbacky enough and I think he’s proven those people wrong,” Kyle Van Noy, former Ravens linebacker, remarked.
- “It’s just flabbergasting how anytime he doesn’t finish first or second in MVP voting, the national media and, clearly, some of his peers develop a bad case of amnesia when it comes to the type of generational and nearly unstoppable talent he is when he steps foot on the gridiron,” Josh Reed, writer, argued.
What’s Next
The revamped offensive line and new coaching staff are expected to position Jackson for a return to the Top 100’s upper tier in the 2026 season, with the Ravens targeting another AFC North title.
