An anonymous NFL executive offered an interesting assessment when comparing Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott recently.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler spoke to league executives, coaches, scouts and players to build a list of the top 10 quarterbacks for 2021. Perhaps to the surprise of some, Prescott (No. 7) came in one spot above Jackson (No. 8), the 2019 NFL MVP. One football person gave this analysis:
"Lamar is a better all-around football player, Dak is the better QB," one AFC exec said.
While this quote may initial draw some eye rolls, perhaps it shouldn't.
Jackson is unquestionably one of the most athletically gifted players the league has ever seen, one that has made tremendous strides as a passer since being the fifth quarterback selected in the 2018 NFL Draft.
That said, prior to Prescott's season-ending compound fracture and dislocation of his ankle in early October, the quarterback was off to a torrid start in 2020. In parts of five games - his first five under Mike McCarthy - Prescott had thrown nine touchdowns to four interceptions, while averaging 371.2 passing yards per game. Perhaps Prescott wouldn't have stayed on that pace if he played the whole season, but he almost certainly would have thrown for over 5,000 yards.
We'd still lean Jackson over Prescott in building our ideal team, as evidenced by our own top 32 quarterbacks for 2021 countdown. But would it be a surprise if Prescott -- who has CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup and Amari Cooper at his disposal -- put up an MVP-caliber season in 2021? Hardly.
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