When the national conversation turns to NFL quarterback tiers, there are always debates. Disagreements are par for the course, but when it comes to Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, the tone is usually consistent. He has his detractors, but most in the know believe he’s elite when he is healthy.

That consistency once again showed up when ESPN published “Predicting all 32 NFL starting quarterbacks for 2026 season.” Jackson, unsurprisingly, sits in the “locked in” tier as Baltimore’s unquestioned starter.

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There’s no controversy there. There never really is. All that is needed is for Eric DeCosta and the two-time MVP to sit down and agree on the terms of an extension. That will lower his massive cap number and allow Raven leadership to put some elite pieces around him.

ESPN’s Seth Walder, following a down season by Jackson’s standards, expressed the following about an expected bounce-back.

“After winning the MVP in 2023 and almost winning it in 2024, Jackson had a down season in 2025 in which he missed a few games and wasn’t quite himself when he played. Now Jackson will be in a new system under offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, but there should be high confidence that he can return to form in 2026.”

Credit Walder for his analysis. Measured… Nothing emotional there… That’s not unnecessary criticism. That’s context, a decent description of Jackson’s season.

Yes, 2025 wasn’t peak Lamar. Injuries disrupted his rhythm and ultimately the rhythm of the offense. Availability wavered, and when he was available and on the field, he didn’t consistently look like the player who terrorized defenses en route to MVP hardware.

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Here’s the key. The expectation isn’t representative of any decline. Ravens have been saying the same thing for months.

When the man we affectionately refer to as ‘Action Jackson’ is healthy and operating within a system that maximizes his strengths, he isn’t just good. He’s a game-breaker. A “down year” for him still carries flashes most quarterbacks can’t replicate in their best seasons.

The added wrinkle is a new transition, from Todd Monken to the new offensive coordinator, Declan Doyle. That brings a new system and a new voice. Adjustments are required, but Jackson has evolved before. He’s grown as a passer. He’s adapted to new personnel. He’s carried playoff expectations.

So, what’s the takeaway here? It seems the answer is simple. No one is writing him off nationally or locally. Jackson will be back under center for the Ravens in 2025, and history suggests that betting against him ages poorly.

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This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Recent NFL QB discussion predicts a Lamar Jackson bounce-back in 2026