Lamar Jackson is heading toward the 2026 season with the kind of scrutiny that follows a quarterback when the questions start to pile up. He still cracked ESPN’s top five at the position, but the conversation around him is no longer just about brilliance - it’s about how long that brilliance can keep looking the same.
Jackson missed four games last season because of injury, and Baltimore’s year ended with the franchise out of the playoffs for the first time since 2021. That backdrop is part of why NFL executives are sounding cautious as teams look ahead.
One NFL personnel director put the concern plainly: "I do wonder if he starts running less as he approaches age 30," an NFL personnel director said. "He's still fast but probably not at his peak. So they could start to manufacture runs in other ways."
That’s the tension with Jackson. He owns the all-time NFL quarterback record with 6,522 rushing yards, but the 2025 season showed some signs that the ground game may not be as explosive as it once was. His rushing yardage, yards-per-carry baseline and rushing touchdowns all dropped.
Even so, the passing side of his game drew praise from another evaluator. An anonymous defensive coach said Jackson was much better the last time they faced him and can dice up any team. Another NFL personnel evaluator also expects a big year in 2026.
Jackson’s final line last season: 63.6% completions, 2,549 passing yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 13 games. On the ground, he had 67 carries for 349 yards and two scores.
ESPN’s Seth Walder also pointed to Baltimore’s roster issues as the team prepares for the new season. In his breakdown of the Ravens’ strengths and weaknesses, he identified the interior offensive line as the biggest problem.
"Interior offensive line. The coaching staff is new, but this is the same weakness the Ravens had in the previous two seasons," Walder wrote.
Baltimore has tried to address that spot. The Ravens are expected to roll out three new starters on the interior, including Danny Pinter at center in place of free agent Tyler Linderbaum, plus guard John Simpson. Rookie Olaivavega Ioane will also compete for the other guard job.
Walder also flagged the receiving group as another area worth watching. Zay Flowers is established as the top option, and Rashod Bateman is likely next in line, but the depth behind them remains a question.
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