The anticipation of the 2019 NFL season in retrospect had a lot of hits, but lots of misses, too. For the hits, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, and the Seattle Seahawks performed to expectations. For the misses, the Cleveland Browns didn't live up to the expectations the NFL world set out for them while the Baltimore Ravens exceeded theirs.
For the Ravens, they managed to become an elite team due to Lamar Jackson's explosion as a second-year quarterback. As for Browns, the failed connection between quarterback Baker Mayfield and receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has been disappointing.
Many pundits put Super Bowl aspirations on the talented Browns team. Jackson has parlayed his season to becoming the frontrunner for the 2019 NFL MVP. As for Mayfield and Beckham, it's another season without playing in the playoffs. While the likelihood of it happening is slim to none, wouldn't it be insane if Jackson and Beckham played on the same team?
The Ravens have developed an offense that tailors to Jackson's strengths: a quarterback with an arm talent who is most dangerous with his legs. Thus, why he has notched the league's best rushing record for a quarterback. While also currently leading the league in passing touchdowns. His pure threat to run the football has opened the passing lanes for the Ravens receivers.
Just imagine if Beckham was apart of this experience. While he would have to do a lot of blocking due to the Ravens' strategic rushing attack, Jackson's ability to open the passing lanes will make it easier for Beckham to have highly productive seasons. If this amazing hypothetical duo did formulate, it doesn't seem outlandish to think Jackson could throw 50 touchdown passing seasons.
But unfortunately, the Ravens are pretty set with their personnel and their ethos of play. And the Browns have a lot of work to do but appears determined to work things out. The Ravens have figured out how to maximize their talent, while the Browns have to go back to the drawing board this offseason. If the 2019 NFL Draft was any indication, the roles of the teams' trajectory this season should be reversed.
In the end, a Jackson-Beckham Jr. pairing can only live in the imaginations of NFL fans. A dynamic talent in Lamar Jackson would likely feast for years with Odell Beckham's big-play ability. A juke from Jackson on one play. A one-handed catch from Beckham in another. The transitions of these plays would keep sites such as Bleacher Report humming for years.
Too bad it's only something that's only useful with imagination.
Follow Us
Subscribe