July 21, 2026, 12:37 a.m. ET
Every season seems to bring another reminder not to place limits on Lamar Jackson. The Baltimore Ravens‘ quarterback has already won MVP awards. He’s rewritten the record book for rushing quarterbacks. He’s produced seasons that many signal callers would gladly trade careers for, yet there’s reason to believe he may not have reached his ceiling.
The 2025 season never quite unfolded the way Baltimore envisioned. Injuries prevented Jackson from playing the full slate of games. He was rarely at full strength when he did play, and the Ravens‘ playoff hopes ended earlier than anyone expected.
Now, after a long offseason to recover and the arrival of offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, Baltimore has every reason to believe its franchise quarterback can once again produce one of the NFL’s elite seasons. Optimism abounds. The numbers still prove he’s football’s best at his position when healthy, but those still needing evidence should continue reading. This could be a massive season for the Ravens’ leader on offense.
A long offseason has given Lamar Jackson a chance to heal
Sometimes the biggest roster improvement isn’t a free-agent signing. It’s getting healthy. Jackson rarely competed at full health and never looked completely like himself throughout 2025, yet he still finished with a 103.8 passer rating while throwing 21 touchdowns against only seven interceptions in 13 games. If that’s the floor, or anything close to it, the ceiling remains incredibly high.
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.Lamar Jackson’s deep ball remains among the NFL’s best
Jackson continues to be one of football’s most dangerous vertical passers. His 13.3 yards per completion led the NFL last season, evidence that he never lost the ability to stretch defenses.
Give him time in the pocket, and Jackson can still punish opponents with explosive plays. If the offensive line does its part, this season could be a fun watch.
Winning remains the expectation
One disappointing season shouldn’t overshadow years of success. Jackson has posted only one losing record in seven seasons as Baltimore’s full-time starter. Even that 6-7 mark came during an injury-marred campaign in which the Ravens remained competitive until the closing weeks, where the Steelers unfortunately delivered the knockout blow.
History suggests that the most recent season was the exception rather than a new trend. Had Baltimore won in Week 18 with a postseason berth on the line. This wouldn’t even be part of the conversation.
The dual-threat ability hasn’t disappeared
Jackson didn’t run as frequently last season, finishing with 302 rushing yards—his lowest total as a full-time starter. That shouldn’t be mistaken for declining athleticism. He has never produced fewer than 695 before. That came during his rookie season, when he started only 7 of 16 games.
Since taking over as the full-time starter in 2019, he has never had fewer than 764 yards rushing. Baltimore could understandably prioritize keeping its quarterback healthy, but Jackson remains one of football’s most dynamic runners whenever the situation calls for it. His legs continue to change games, even if the Ravens choose to deploy them more selectively.
His 2024 season proved what’s possible
The blueprint already exists. It seems longer ago than it was, but Jackson led the NFL in yards per attempt (8.8), passer rating (119.6), and QBR (74.8) while throwing 41 touchdown passes against only four interceptions. Those numbers weren’t a fluke. They demonstrated what Jackson can accomplish when he’s healthy, protected, and operating within an offense that plays to his strengths.
With Declan Doyle introducing fresh ideas and Baltimore’s roster entering the season healthier than it was a year ago, there’s a legitimate reason to believe Jackson could approach, or even surpass, that level of play again. If that happens, the Ravens won’t simply have one of the league’s most dangerous quarterbacks. They’ll once again have one of the leading candidates for the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award.