National Football League

Five NFL Teams who should draft Lamar Jackson in 2018

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Well the 2016 Heisman Trophy presentation is over and Lamar Jackson is the clear cut winner. But what NFL team could possibly draft him in 2018?

The Heisman Trophy presentation is over and all the highlight reels have been set. Finally we have our Heisman winner in Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson is the first player in FBS history with at least 3,300 passing yards and 1,500 rushing yards. The ACC Player of the Year now holds the ACC records for for rushing yards by a quarterback, total touchdowns and rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.

The dynamic sophomore quarterback will have to return at least for his junior season. His development as a pocket passer will be closely watched as will what his offseason holds. He will need to put on more muscle if he hopes to withstand hits from NFL defensive players.

Even then, it begs the question, which five teams should draft Lamar Jackson in 2018? There are still quite a few teams looking for a solid signal-caller, especially with the ability Jackson has. The Cleveland Browns have still yet to find a quarterback as their recent experiment with Robert Griffin III hit a snag due to injury. Are they one team?

It remains to be seen as of yet. At 0-12, the Browns will probably have this year’s number one pick, they’ll need to draft a quarterback in this season’s NFL Draft. A few other teams may be able to hold off on a gamble on a quarterback. But which teams have a chance at Lamar Jackson’s services in the 2018 NFL Draft?

Dec 4, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) looks to pass against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

5. Cincinatti Bengals

The Cincinatti Bengals have taken a hard fall from grace. They rank 23rd in the NFL in points per game (20.6) with a record of 5-7-1. Quarterback Andy Dalton is fifth in the league this season in passing yards (3,375) but is fourth in sacks taken (32). It may be time the Bengals looked for a dual-threat quarterback like Lamar Jackson to add to their arsenal. The Bengals are ninth in yards per game at 371.1 yards per contest but it hasn’t translated to the win column.

Dalton has fumbled a career-high six times so far this season and his favorite target wide receiver A.J. Green has been out the last three games with a hamstring injury. Scoring the football has been the biggest issue for Cincinatti. They average 106.4 rushing yards per game, 14th in the NFL. Through the air, they average 256.5 passing yards per game, 11th in the NFL.

Jackson isn’t shy as he scored 51 total touchdowns (30 passing, 21 rushing) this season. Granted, he probably won’t be able to rush for 1,500 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns in an NFL season. Getting to 30 passing touchdowns is reason enough to at least give Jackson a shot if the possibility arises.

With the Bengals on the verge of missing the playoffs after going 12-4 in 2015, they could look to go a different direction if 2017 goes the same way. If they have the chance to draft Jackson, why not take it?

Oct 30, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Jets won 31-28. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

4. New York Jets

Imagine the possibilities with Lamar Jackson and wide receiver Brandon Marshall being on the field together. It could happen, possibly. The Jets have struggled under Ryan Fitzpatrick and have since turned to former Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty as starter for the rest of the season.

The Jets rank 29th in the league in points per game at 17.6 a contest. They are 22nd in the NFL in total yards per game at 333.8 total yards a contest. Their 222.5 passing yards per game as a team ranks 26th in the NFL. It explains their 4-9 record and then some.

Petty went 11-for-25 with 135 passing yards, a passing touchdown and two interceptions in the Jets’ most recent game. They lost 41-10, their fourth straight loss.

In 10 starts this season, Fitzpatrick has thrown for 2,333 passing yards with 10 passing touchdowns but he also had 14 interceptions. Many say the Jets quarterback of the future is already on the roster in Christian Hackenberg. But he’s yet to play for the Jets.

If the Jets find themselves still with a quarterback conundrum next season and Lamar Jackson is available in the draft, they should take their chances.

With a player of Jackson’s dynamic ability, head coach Todd Bowles can certainly find a way to win games and possibly save his job in the process. We’ll see what 2018 brings.

Dec 4, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Snow falls on San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) during the first half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

3. San Francisco 49ers

At 1-12, the San Francisco 49ers have shown there is a long way to go under first-year head coach Chip Kelly. They are 26th in the NFL in points per game (19.3), 29th in total yards per game (314.0) and they are tied for a league-worst 23 fumbles this season.

There’s no telling if the 49ers go big on the offensive or defensive side of the ball in this season’s draft. The team had given up on quarterback Colin Kaepernick against the Chicago Bears. They benched Kaepernick after he completed just one of five passes and was sacked five times. The 49ers staff turned to quarterback Blaine Gabbert to call the plays. Gabbert went 4-for-10 with 35 passing yards and no touchdowns.

The 49ers could use a breath of fresh air like quarterback Lamar Jackson on the roster. There’s no telling if they’ll draft a quarterback in this year’s draft. Chip Kelly likes dual-threat quarterbacks of Jackson’s caliber. Let’s see what 2018 brings for both parties.

Dec 11, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

2. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars are another team in need of some help on offense. At 2-11 on the season, they are 29th in the turnover department with 25 on the year.

Quarterback Blake Bortles has thrown for 21 passing touchdowns this season but he’s been a bit turnover-prone. He is second in the NFL this year with 15 interceptions. He has also been sacked quite a bit as well. Bortles has taken a sack in all but one game so far this season. He also has five fumbles this season.

Louisville’s Lamar Jackson is certainly an elusive target to take down. Granted, he was sacked 38 times this season at Louisville but with NFL linemen, maybe the outcome would be a bit different. The team already has youth in receivers Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson, going with Lamar Jackson at quarterback could take them a long way. After all, Jackson is a native of Boynton Beach, Florida roughly 300 miles away from Jacksonville. A return to his home state could be good for both parties.

November 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

1. Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams need to start all over as it hasn’t been the greatest start since their relocation. They recently fired head coach Jeff Fisher after a 4-9 start. The Rams looked abysmal in their 42-10 loss to the Atlanta Falcons this past week.

If they draft a quarterback this season, it could be premature. They have some weapons on offense with running back Todd Gurley, but things sour from there. They are last in the in the NFL in points per game with 14.9 a contest. The Rams offense ranks last in total first downs (210) and they’ve lost their last four games.

Before things get better, they could use a dynamic player like Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson to turn things around for them in Los Angeles. Jackson has created a name for himself, as told by his recent Heisman win. If he’s available to the Rams in 2018, they have the biggest shot at getting him, for now.