During Lamar Jackson's three-year run at Louisville, the quarterback threw for more than 9,000 yards with 67 touchdown passes and racked up a whopping 4,132 rushing yards with 50 more scores. Those are ridiculous numbers for the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner and a reflection of the electric impact he had on the college game.
But how will Jackson's skill set translate to the NFL? When I turn on the tape, I see a dynamic player with the ball in his hands. I see a player who reminds me of when I played against an in-his-prime Michael Vick. I see a quarterback with ultra-rare athleticism. I also see a guy who needs time to tighten up his throwing mechanics to become a more consistent passer. Jackson improved every year at Louisville, but he never completed more than 60 percent of his passes in a season.
I would want to coach him up, though. Because Jackson has the traits to develop with the proper coaching, system and an established talent base with which to work.
Let's run through Jackson's best fits in the 2018 draft. I'm looking for teams that could put Jackson on the right developmental path. These are all realistic, as Jackson is rated as the fifth-best quarterback in this class by ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, and a likely first-round pick: