It was so emphasized that Patrick Mahomes was number 4 on the NFL Networks’ “100 Best Players of 2020” list that it was not enough for Lamar Jackson to get the number 1 spot.
Mahomes be at n. # 4 was excruciatingly bad. But Jackson at number 1 was not a mistake.
The annual NFL Top 100 list is always baffling, in part because there are no true criteria. They are just the top 100 players in the NFL today. That is quite ambiguous.
But it’s not wrong to have Jackson in front of Mahomes.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes shakes hands with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. (Photo by Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson are superstars
If he were choosing a quarterback to build a franchise, Mahomes would top the list. Presumably Jackson’s career will be shorter because he is widely used as a running back. But if we pick a top 100 list based on what we saw last season, Jackson is a good choice.
We forget quickly, especially when there are playoff losses. Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens lost their first playoff game, even though Jackson threw for 365 yards and ran for 143 more. Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to their first championship in 50 years and won the Super Bowl MVP. Mahomes was the owner of the offseason as a result.
The magic of Mahomes’ playoffs comes to mind, but Jackson was phenomenal in the regular season. He was the unanimous NFL MVP and was well deserved. The Ravens’ loss in the playoffs doesn’t change that Jackson had a historic season. However, in the rush to laugh at the NFL Network’s list for putting Mahomes in fourth place, the common theme on social media was that Jackson didn’t have to get ahead of Mahomes. For.
It would have been nice to vote for Mahomes first. It is undoubtedly great. But let’s not act like there’s a problem with Jackson taking first place. He was the best soccer player last season. So it was the unanimous selection of MVP.
Jackson is still a little underrated
It is still difficult for some people to fully appreciate Jackson because he is different from the norm.
For decades, quarterbacks were measured only by their ability to shoot from the pocket. Running was considered a weakness. Then the game changed. The NFL has finally accepted the fact that an elite dual-threat quarterback is almost impossible to stop in the correct scheme. Mahomes is a better pitcher than Jackson; he could be one of the best pure passers-by in history. But Jackson is the best quarterback he runs (yeah, already), and he just led the NFL on touchdown passes. That combination is as incredible as any Mahomes non-watching pitch.
In the rush to anoint Mahomes, once again, he’s great, no one would argue otherwise, aside from the enemies that had him at number 4 or lower on his top 100 ballot, it must be said that Jackson is also great. They are very different players and excellent in their own way. And Jackson deserved the # 1 spot on that list.
Mahomes vs. Jackson should be a fantastic rivalry in the AFC for a while. Hopefully they can work it out in the playoffs this season.
