Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s ranking in the NFL Network list of the league’s top 100 players caught the eye of head coach Jesse Minter. Jackson is ranked 69th on the list, which is compiled by a vote of players. Jackson was No. 2 on 2025’s list and the two-time MVP’s drop was noticed by plenty of other people as well. During an appearance on the team’s The Lounge podcast, Minter said that he had an “interesting back and forth” with the quarterback about a ranking that he feels is at odds with how things actually look on the field. “Look, there may not even be one other player in the league better than Lamar, yet alone 68 players in the league better than Lamar,” Minter said. “When you have one year where he dealt with a little bit of injury and the team [missed the playoffs], certain players they hold onto that and certain players they give them the benefit of the doubt. This guy is a multi-MVP winner, has transcended the quarterback position. He knows how I feel about him. I guess I don’t put too much stock into what the list looks like.” Minter said he doesn’t think Jackson puts much stock into the rankings either and suggested the quarterback just focus on being himself because he has “proven over time that the best version is the best player in the league.” If he makes the case for that again in 2026, Minter’s first season in Baltimore should play out pretty well
After failing to secure a backup role with the Ravens, quarterback Diego Pavia has been placed on waivers. He has several potential options, including waiting for another NFL opportunity, playing in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, or joining the UFL. Pavia could also attempt to sue for eligibility in college football, despite the NCAA rule complexities, given his strong collegiate performance
Diego Pavia's stay with the Baltimore Ravens didn't last long. After signing the 2025 Heisman Trophy runner-up as an undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt on May 1, the Ravens waived him 83 days later on Thursday, just one day before rookies were set to report to Baltimore's training camp. We have waived QB Diego Pavia. https://t.co/Q1wbCbkwLe Pavia was in the mix to compete for the third spot on Baltimore's quarterback depth chart behind two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and former Pro Bowler Tyler Huntley . Pavia's competition for that spot was 2022 seventh-round pick Skylar Thompson and 2026 undrafted free agent Joe Fagnano out of Connecticut. There's a good chance the Ravens won't carry more than Jackson and Huntley on the 53-man roster during the 2026 season, with the third quarterback spending most of their time on the team's practice squad. Baltimore will likely divide up the majority of their preseason game reps between those two quarterbacks. The 2025 Heisman runner-up led the Commodores to their first 10-win season in school history while setting single-season school records for wins, passing yards (3,539) and passing touchdowns (29). He ranked second in college football in total yards per game (338.5) and tied for third in the sport in total touchdowns (39). Pavia's 119 career total touchdowns and 88 career passing touchdowns both led college football since 2022. At his size (5-foot-10, 203 pounds), sticking around the NFL will be an uphill battle for the 24-year-old rookie. That's especially true for NFL teams that could view him as not worth the time, given the potential distraction factor he brings. Pavia posted an expletive-filled image about the Heisman voters after he lost out on the award to Fernando Mendoza before eventually apologizing for doing so . So where could Pavia's next landing spots be? Here are a few potential options. The New York Jets have one of the worst quarterback rooms in the entire NFL. Geno Smith , who will turn 36-years-old during the 2026 season, is likely to be the team's Week 1 starter just a year removed from becoming the sixth quarterback since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger to lead the league in both interceptions and sacks taken in the same season. Behind Smith are 2026 fourth-round pick Cade Klubnik and two veterans: Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe . The Jets are playing for the future in 2026, aiming to snag a franchise quarterback in the loaded 2027 NFL Draft . Why not give Pavia a turn to see if he can hang at the NFL level? There's a good chance he can be a solid co-captain of New York's tank brigade in 2026. Winnipeg has owned Pavia's Canadian Football League negotiating rights since 2024, and they may be in a position to make good on those rights with the popular 2025 SEC Offensive Player of the Year this offseason. Regardless of physical stature, Pavia would immediately become one of the CFL's most talented quarterbacks. Obviously, Pavia will look to secure some form of football employment for the fall, whether that's an NFL practice squad or a spot in the CFL. However, the UFL in the spring of 2027 would make plenty of sense for him. It's a chance to receive immediate playing time while suiting up alongside other players just on the fringe of making the NFL. This is where he'll likely find the most talented teammates outside of the NFL itself. Plus, he's a big name who could juice the UFL's TV ratings. If Pavia is unable to find a football landing spot for the fall, he could quickly navigate into the world of podcasting and social media. He has both a big personality and a sizable Instagram following of 112,000. Plus, he has relationships with comedian Theo Von and others in the entertainment industry. That could add up to a comfortable post-football life if Pavia feels his playing days are over
With training camp approaching, the Ravens had five quarterbacks on the 90-man roster. They now have four. Via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Ravens have waived rookie quarterback Diego Pavia. Undrafted in April, Pavia signed with the Ravens. The contract contained no signing bonus or guarantees . Pavia finished the offseason program with the Ravens. He’ll now be subject to the waivers system. If not claimed, he’ll become a free agent again. Remaining on the roster for the Ravens are quarterbacks Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley, Skylar Thompson, and Joe Fagnano
This year, the annual NFL Top 100 list is being revealed over the not so brief span of June 22 through September 4. A couple of former Philadelphia Eagles players have already made appearances ( A.J. Brown at No. 80, Josh Sweat at No. 78) but now a current member of the Birds has finally been revealed. Jalen Hurts is checking in at No. 56, according to this list determined by player voting. Here’s a highlights clip that features praise from his peers: For the third year in a row, Hurts’ ranking in the NFL Top 100 has dropped. He was No. 3 in 2023, No. 15 in 2024, and No. 19 in 2025. Hurts is the eighth quarterback to make the list thus far. He finished above the following players at his position: No. 59 – Bo Nix No. 62 – Trevor Lawrence No. 69 – Lamar Jackson No. 72 – Jordan Love No. 77 – Baker Mayfield No. 85 – Brock Purdy No. 98 – Bryce Young It’s interesting to see this player-voted list contrasted with the recent ESPN survey of front office executives and coaches. The latter had Hurts ranked as the league’s seventeenth-best quarterback , which feels harsh. Comparatively speaking, Hurts clearly draws more respect from his fellow players. Perhaps none more than former Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson , who went as far to say that Hurts should top the list: I’d guess even some of the biggest Hurts supporters would admit that’s extreme. But the sentiment is admirable. While it’s not surprising to see CJGJ hype up his former teammate and fellow Super Bowl champion, it is pretty notable that he’s putting Hurts above his current Buffalo Bills teammate Josh Allen . What do you think of Hurts’ placement in this year’s NFL Top 100 list? Too high, too low, just right? Scroll down and join the discussion in the comments! Hat tip to our community for getting the ball rolling on this topic first in The Feed:
Get the early 2026-27 NFL MVP odds as Josh Allen opens as the +650 favorite. See how Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow stack up for the league’s top individual honor
Baltimore Beatdown is proud to introduce this four-part series on Lamar Jackson from former Ravens running back Femi Ayanbadejo! He is a member of the 2000 Super Bowl championship team and an 11-year NFL veteran. He also holds an MBA from Johns Hopkins, with executive credentials from Harvard and Wharton, and has worked in sports media as an NFL analyst since 2013. Ayanbadejo is currently part of the radio team at 105.7 The Fan Baltimore. Lamar Jackson trades like a meme stock in the marketplace of media and executive opinion. His perceived value surges after an MVP season, crashes after a playoff loss, and resets with almost no institutional memory of the underlying fundamentals. The film, the production, and the total body of work change gradually. The narrative price moves overnight. Jackson is judged differently than any quarterback in recent memory. His accolades take the stairs up while his critics put him on the elevator down. Every achievement is earned slowly, scrutinized at every floor, and met at the top with a new reason it was not enough. Every criticism arrives instantly and is amplified before anyone checks whether it is true. Old narratives are zombie-like in their refusal to die. Evidence of underperformance is weighted against his entire body of work, while evidence of growth is often treated as temporary. When the facts change, the framing simply finds a new form. That narrative volatility is visible right now. In the player-voted NFL Top 100, Jackson fell 67 places—from No. 2 to No. 69—after an injury-disrupted season in which he still finished fourth in passer rating at 103.8. Trevor Lawrence ranked 62nd and Bo Nix 59th, while ESPN’s survey of more than 70 executives, coaches, and scouts placed Jackson fifth among quarterbacks. Colin Cowherd’s movement was even more revealing: he ranked Jackson seventh in May, then 11th in July, choosing the “ascending” Drake Maye over an “expensive, declining” Jackson and announcing that he was “selling his stock.” Skepticism about Jackson in major postseason moments is fair; declaring him a depreciating asset after one injury-marred season is not. He is 29. Matthew Stafford just won MVP at 37, Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning won at 37 or older, and Tom Brady won at 40. Meanwhile, Baltimore’s supporting cast was ranked 22nd. When Jackson produces an MVP-caliber season, critics say he is loaded with talent. When preseason rankings arrive, that same supporting cast is considered below average while Jackson’s individual value collapses. This is not consistent evaluation. It is narrative volatility. If every NFL player were available in a franchise draft today and the objective were to win now, I do not believe five players would be selected before Lamar Jackson. People underestimating Jackson is not an occasional occurrence. It is his norm. The hyperbole surrounding him since before the draft has helped create a man largely impervious to nonsensical commentary. He rarely responds to it. I will. I write from the intersection of athlete, analyst, admiration, and accountability. Not all criticism of Jackson is invalid. His decision-making in several playoff losses, his postseason ball security, and a 3-5 playoff record are fair subjects for scrutiny. This series addresses them directly. What is not fair is the pattern of unverified character attacks, manufactured destination narratives, and lazy analysis that presents subjective opinion with the authority of sourced fact. Over the past year, the pile-on has been particularly pointed. Emmanuel Acho called Jackson the “common denominator” in Baltimore’s postseason failures and expressed no confidence that he would ever win a Super Bowl. Eric Mangini questioned his maturity and loyalty. Greg Cote invoked Dan Marino as a cautionary comparison. Mike Preston published a commentary containing character allegations and destination speculation without disclosing a verifiable source. These claims do not all belong in the same cate
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This is Part II of my fantasy football top-36 overall players series. Analysis for the first 12 players went live on Monday , and I was able to sneak in Kenneth Walker III as the last on that list. He’d be the biggest surprise there, but the difference between Walker and the next half-dozen players in today’s column is slim to none. Unfortunately, what is “slim to none” before the season is going to be significant during the season. Let’s get these decisions correct. Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season Picks 1-12 Picks 13-24 Picks 25-36 (coming Thursday) De’Von Achane, RB7, Dolphins It's fair to assume the very peak of Achane's fantasy status is behind him. He was the RB5 on RB7 last year, and he's been the RB7 on RB10 usage over the past two seasons in half PPR. He's even better than that in full PPR (RB6 on RB7 usage). Mike McDaniel is one of the best play designers in the NFL, especially for his RBs after orchestrating the Kyle Shanahan rushing offense for years. Achane has been the RB6 in rush yards over expected (+13%) over the past two seasons, while routinely getting to the edge off of fancy designs. I'm far less optimistic that new OC Bobby Slowik and his OL coach from a failed Texans stint will be nearly as effective on the whiteboard. There's also some risk that the new staff won't give Achane (5'9"/191 lbs) the same workload as McDaniel did. It takes some out of the box perspective to do so, and it's not a guarantee that his top-16 carries per game carry over. I think it will, but it's not a given. As important to everything else listed above is the QB change. Malik Willis will help Achane spring open rushing lanes, in similar ways Lamar Jackson has for his RBs over the years. Willis is also a threat for goal-line scores in ways that Tua Tagovailoa wasn't, and he's far less likely to check the ball down than Tua was because he can simply scramble himself. It'd be insane to not feature Achane as a receiver, however, so the Dolphins coaching staff would have to get a near failing grade to not keep Achane in the low-end RB1 mix, especially in full-PPR. They have nobody else to throw the ball to, and Achane is a building block for the entire organization. The underrated part of the Dolphins team is this OL. Aaron Brewer is a top-three center, LT Patrick Paul broke out last year with elite athleticism and first-round LG Kadyn Proctor is as big as a house with rare feet for his size. That is the foundation to keep Achane rolling, even if we'll miss McDaniel on the sticks. James Cook, RB8, Bills Cook was the RB6 on RB7 usage if we remove his Week 18 game. He did it on the most carries (19.1) and rushing yards (98.3) per game. All sustainable, too. His YPC (5.1) was great but not so high that it's not somewhat repeatable. It's just the reality of playing next to Josh Allen and behind a quality OL which returns 4-of-5 starters. Cook is also quite talented himself. Cook also didn't run super hot with TDs. He was the RB10 in inside the five-yard line carries. He had another five scores from outside the 20-yard line, but that's expected for someone as quick as he is in an efficient offense. The Bills were third in scoring last year and are second in projected scoring in 2026, per the betting markets. The RB depth chart is the same, and his play-caller Joe Brady was just promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach. The offense should feel nearly identical, with the only changeups being D.J. Moore is on the team and the OL coach is gone. That could matter on the margins, but Allen had a relatively down season last year and could be back to his MVP level self in a hurry. It's difficult to find the legendary season from Cook because he was the RB39 in receptions per game (1.9) and Allen will steal some short-yardage TDs, but it's hard to ignore his mid-range to low-end RB1 status, especially in half-PPR or standard scoring. Ashton Jeanty, RB9, Raiders Everything went wrong [... truncated ...]
Hello football friends, and welcome to the Monday edition of the Pick Six newsletter! After spending the past week on vacation, I'm back. And it's just in time, because the NFL is also back. Starting this week, the NFL is going into full training camp mode. Although we saw several teams have their rookies report to camp last week, the real stuff starts this week. Six teams will have their full roster in camp by the end of the week: the Cardinals (July 22), Panthers (July 22), Patriots (July 24), Seahawks (July 24), 49ers (July 25) and Rams (July 25). The 26 other teams report on July 28, so get ready for total chaos next Monday. Speaking of chaos, let's get to today's newsletter. As always, here's your reminder to tell your friends to sign up for the newsletter . Let's get to the rundown. Over the past month, we've ranked the top quarterbacks and the top duos in the NFL, and now we're going to take those two things one step farther by ranking the top offensive triplets. When you think of triplets in the NFL, the most famous trio was probably Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith, who won three Super Bowls together with the Cowboys in the 1990s. Jerry Jones might not know how to build a Super Bowl-winning team anymore, but he does know how to find a set of triplets. Our triplet ranking consists of one quarterback, one running back and a pass-catcher from each team, and the Cowboys ranked in the top five on our list. So who has the best set of triplets in the NFL this year? Let's find out. 1. Bengals (QB Joe Burrow , RB Chase Brown , WR Ja'Marr Chase ) 2. Rams (QB Matthew Stafford , RB Kyren Williams , WR Puka Nacua ) 3. Lions (QB Jared Goff , RB Jahmyr Gibbs , WR Amon-Ra St. Brown ) 4. Ravens (QB Lamar Jackson , RB Derrick Henry , WR Zay Flowers ) 5. Cowboys (QB Dak Prescott , RB Javonte Williams , WR CeeDee Lamb ) Six NFL writers here at CBS Sports voted, and we ranked all 32 teams. If you want to see the breakdown of the vote or find out why the Bengals ended up on top, be sure to check out Jared Dubin's full story here . After an offseason of waiting, the NFL fun finally starts this week with several teams reporting to training camp. With camp getting underway, we thought now would be a good time to break down one key storyline for each team. Let's check out a few of the storylines (via Zach Pereles): If you want to know when your favorite team reports to training camp and see all 32 storylines to watch, we've got everything here . The NFL is a quarterback-driven league, and if you don't have a good QB room, there's a good chance you're going to struggle. Jordan Dajani ranked the five worst QB situations in the NFL this year, and if your favorite team is on this list, I think it's safe to say you can probably go ahead and assume they're NOT going to win the Super Bowl . This ranking didn't just take into account each team's starter; it took into account every QB on the roster. So who has the worst QB room in the league? Let's find out. (And remember, being ranked at the top of this list isn't a good thing. That means you have the worst QB room.) 1. Browns ( Deshaun Watson , Shedeur Sanders , Dillon Gabriel , Taylen Green ). The Browns have owned the weirdest quarterback room in the NFL for years now. Deshaun Watson is still on the roster thanks to that five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed deal he signed in 2022. He owns the worst completion percentage, yards per attempt and TD-INT ratio in the NFL in the five years since one of the worst trades of all time. To make matters worse, Watson hasn't seen any NFL action since October 2024 after tearing the same Achilles twice. Will he be able to win the competition he's favored in? 2. Jets ( Geno Smith , Cade Klubnik , Bailey Zappe , Brady Cook ). Geno Smith is back in New York, and he actually became the first quarterback to return to his original draft team via trade since Fran Tarkenton in 1972, according to CBS Sports Research. However, Smith went fr
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A third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane is entering his rookie season with a chance to carve out a role in his team's passing game immediately. Across 11 games at USC in 2025, Lane recorded 49 catches for 745 yards and four touchdowns. The Ravens have a clear WR1 in Zay Flowers, but the team received underwhelming production from current starting outside wideouts Rashod Bateman and Devontez Walker in 2025. Along with fellow rookie Elijah Sarratt, Lane could emerge as a key downfield target for Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson if he performs well in training camp and the preseason. Baltimore also has a new coaching staff in place entering 2026. New play-caller Declan Doyle could look to open up the team's passing game a bit more, which could lead to more fantasy production overall from Ravens wide receivers this season. As the WR95 by current redraft ADP, Lane could be a sleeper name for fantasy managers to target at the end of drafts
Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby says four quarterbacks stand out as the hardest in the NFL to sack. Asked in a kick.com interview who he considers the hardest to sack in the league, Crosby named Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes , Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson , Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield . "Mahomes has definitely got to be up there, Lamar is a freak athlete, he's so quick and fast. Josh Allen is like my size playing quarterback, but you've got to really fucking tackle him. I'd say those three are the top," Crosby said. "A sleeper one, too: Baker Mayfield. He pissed me off. I had two of them I should have had on him. He ducked under, got under them. I was fucking livid. Baker's tough. I like Baker." Crosby never sacked Mayfield in that game (the photo accompanying this post shows one of the near-sacks that Mayfield escaped), and Mayfield threw for three touchdown passes in a 28-13 Buccaneers win. Crosby hasn't forgotten
Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby says four quarterbacks stand out as the hardest in the NFL to sack. Asked in a kick.com interview who he considers the hardest to sack in the league, Crosby named Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield. “Mahomes has definitely got to be up there, Lamar is a freak athlete, he’s so quick and fast. Josh Allen is like my size playing quarterback, but you’ve got to really fucking tackle him. I’d say those three are the top,” Crosby said. “A sleeper one, too: Baker Mayfield. He pissed me off. I had two of them I should have had on him. He ducked under, got under them. I was fucking livid. Baker’s tough. I like Baker.” Crosby never sacked Mayfield in that game (the photo accompanying this post shows one of the near-sacks that Mayfield escaped), and Mayfield threw for three touchdown passes in a 28-13 Buccaneers win. Crosby hasn’t forgotten
Despite his age and workload, Derrick Henry remains a productive fantasy asset and should be targeted in redraft leagues at his current ADP, as he is projected to provide top-12 fantasy production due to his consistent performance and improved Baltimore offense
The New York Giants and quarterback Jaxson Dart know that the second year pro needs to avoid some of the big hits he took last season. But Giants head coach John Harbaugh made clear they won’t handcuff Dart by taking the quarterback run game away from him . Harbaugh is, of course, familiar with the dangers presented by a running quarterback — both to the opposition and to your own team. He saw both sides while coaching Lamar Jackson . He realizes “things can happen out there” even if a quarterback tries to protect himself. “Jaxson is a guy that does give you a chance to live in all those different worlds,” said Harbaugh during a recent appearance on ‘The Dominique Foxworth Show. “So, if he can do it, then we’re gonna do it, and that’s what we’re planning on doing.” “But I do think playing the game in a way that respects that there are other guys out there that are capable of doing damage to you when you have the ball in your hands, especially for the quarterback, is important. I trust that Jaxson Dart understands that.” Can Matt Nagy develop Jaxson Dart into a talented NFL quarterback? Nagy landed the Giants’ offensive coordinator job thanks largely to the success he achieved in two stints with the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes . New head coach John Harbaugh and Giants brass believe they have a promising prospect in Dart, who went 4-8 as a starter last season but remains very raw. Nagy must help Dart improve his accuracy and decision-making while also helping him learn how to find balance when it comes to using his legs to make plays and putting himself in harm’s way. Nagy’s ability to position Dart for success hinges largely on the health of Malik Nabers , who continues to rehab from an ACL tear that required surgery and robbed him of 13 games last season. Without the team’s go-to receiver, Nagy will have to work even harder to create high-percentage throwing opportunities despite working with a collection of receivers who lack game-changing ability. Running back Cam Skattebo and wide receiver Malik Nabers are both coming off of season-ending injuries and Skattebo was further along when the team wrapped up their offseason program. During an appearance on The Domonique Foxworth Show, Harbaugh said that remains the case and that Skattebo’s ankle should be well enough for him to be working in the first days of training camp. The timeline for Nabers isn’t as clear, but Harbaugh said the wideout is “not far behind” his teammate. “They’re doing well,” Harbaugh said. “They’re both rehabbing every day, working super hard. I would say they’re on schedule. People hear that, and they’re like, ‘Well, what does that mean?’ It’s like, well, ‘I don’t really know because nobody knows. They’re doing well, and they’re getting better every day. I feel like Skatt will be ready early on in camp, really quick. And then Malik will be working his way into practice as camp gets started one way or another. To what degree, we will find out. There’s a lot of optimism about both those two guys right now.” The Giants signed Isaiah Likely to be an offensive weapon in their offense for Jaxson Dart. He’s being paid $40 million over the next three seasons for potential, not production – yet. Likely’s presence changes how the Giants will play schematically. He could see a lot of time in the slot with teammate Theo Johnson in the traditional tight end role. The 6-foot-4, 241-pound Likely had a down season in 2025, catching only 27 passes for 307 yards and a touchdown. Those aren’t numbers that would typically generate a huge contract in free agency, but it’s clear Harbaugh wanted the player in this offense. Two years ago, prior to the foot injury that dogged him last season, Likely caught 42 passes for 477 yards and six touchdowns. This hard work he is putting his team through in July and August is a test, a vetting a process of who belongs, a gauntlet thrown down at the feet of the players: How much are you willing to sacrifice for the good of the whole
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Good morning, Chargers fans! You know what to do! And now for today’s links. Justin Herbert unsurprisingly landed on ESPN’s annual rankings of the best quarterbacks (Chargers.com) The flexibility of the Chargers defensive line will aid Chris O’Leary’s unit greatly in 2026 (Chargers.com) Under-the-radar Chargers to watch in training camp this year (Chargers Wire) Did the Chargers make a mistake by setting up Trevor Penning to be the next man in at guard? (Chargers.com) Execs, scouts, and coaches voted on a consensus top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL this year (ESPN) Ranking the 20 greatest NFL head coaches of all time (CBS Sports) Tony Romo’s only regret from his career is not brining the Cowboys a Super Bowl (NFL.com) Cam Ward recently explained his “we ass” comment from his rookie season, noting he was raised to be honest (Pro Football Talk) Bryce Young must prove this season that he is not a bust (Sports Illustrated) Lamar Jackson tumbled in this year’s NFL Top 100 rankings (Bleacher Report)
John Harbaugh coached Lamar Jackson to a pair of MVPs in Baltimore , but the duo couldn't find a way to navigate through the playoffs to a Super Bowl before Harbaugh was dismissed after the 2025 season. Harbaugh's overall record meant that he only spent a short time out of work before landing as the head coach of the Giants and his chances of finding a way back to the big game will be heavily impacted by his new quarterback. Jaxson Dart showed ability as a runner and a passer in his 12 rookie starts and Harbaugh said on The Dominique Foxworth Show that he sees a chance to do "a lot of the stuff that we did in Baltimore with Lamar" in terms of attacking defenses on the ground and in the air in multiple ways. "Jaxson's capable of doing a lot of things ," Harbaugh said. "Like he can live in a lot of different worlds, football-wise. He can live in a power-running game, obviously, and a power-running game protects the quarterback because you can hand the ball off and get yards and make people defend that and keep them honest. Then, it opens up your play-action passing game. . . . That stuff, we're gonna be in those worlds. But now we can also get in the gun or we can get in the pistol, and we can run RPOs, we can run quarterback-driven runs." Dart's flashes as a rookie were mitigated by a concussion that kept him out of two games and concussion checks that forced him out of parts of other contests. That's made his ability to stay on the field a question heading into his second season, but Harbaugh downplayed concerns about Dart's style by again citing Jackson. "You say something like that to Lamar, and he kinda just looks at you like you've got three heads," Harbaugh said. "It's like, 'No, I'm gonna play ball, I'm gonna play ball.' I just knew, I trusted that he was gonna protect himself because he wants to be out there and he wants to play. It's not the type of a sport where — you can't put yourself in bubble wrap." Harbaugh's feelings will be put to the test this fall and he'll need to be right about Dart for the Giants to fully blossom
John Harbaugh coached Lamar Jackson to a pair of MVPs in Baltimore, but the duo couldn’t find a way to navigate through the playoffs to a Super Bowl before Harbaugh was dismissed after the 2025 season. Harbaugh’s overall record meant that he only spent a short time out of work before landing as the head coach of the Giants and his chances of finding a way back to the big game will be heavily impacted by his new quarterback. Jaxson Dart showed ability as a runner and a passer in his 12 rookie starts and Harbaugh said on The Dominique Foxworth Show that he sees a chance to do “a lot of the stuff that we did in Baltimore with Lamar” in terms of attacking defenses on the ground and in the air in multiple ways. “Jaxson’s capable of doing a lot of things ,” Harbaugh said. “Like he can live in a lot of different worlds, football-wise. He can live in a power-running game, obviously, and a power-running game protects the quarterback because you can hand the ball off and get yards and make people defend that and keep them honest. Then, it opens up your play-action passing game. . . . That stuff, we’re gonna be in those worlds. But now we can also get in the gun or we can get in the pistol, and we can run RPOs, we can run quarterback-driven runs.” Dart’s flashes as a rookie were mitigated by a concussion that kept him out of two games and concussion checks that forced him out of parts of other contests. That’s made his ability to stay on the field a question heading into his second season, but Harbaugh downplayed concerns about Dart’s style by again citing Jackson. “You say something like that to Lamar, and he kinda just looks at you like you’ve got three heads,” Harbaugh said. “It’s like, ‘No, I’m gonna play ball, I’m gonna play ball.’ I just knew, I trusted that he was gonna protect himself because he wants to be out there and he wants to play. It’s not the type of a sport where — you can’t put yourself in bubble wrap.” Harbaugh’s feelings will be put to the test this fall and he’ll need to be right about Dart for the Giants to fully blossom
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.
