The 2018 NFL Draft is shaping up to be quite quarterback-heavy with all the elite prospects in this class. Among the notable names is former Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson.
However, Hall of Fame front office executive Bill Polian made headlines after suggesting Jackson would be better off making the switch to wide receiver in the NFL. Needless to say, Polian caught some flak for his initial comments and attempted to clarify them during an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk:
“[H]e is so dynamic with the ball in his hands,” Polian said. “And even if he makes your squad as a quarterback who’s learning how to play in the National Football League and who’s learning the pro game –although he’s had really good coaching at the college level, that’s not an issue. You’re gonna want him dressed, number one, and you’re gonna probably have a wildcat package in there in order for him to use his running ability, which is rare. But when you do that you’re exposing him to injury, which would set him back in terms of his development as a quarterback, if he can ever develop as a quarterback.
“Secondly, the more you see him with the ball in his hands, the more you’re gonna say, ‘I gotta find more ways to get this guy the ball in his hands.’ What’s better for the team? Better for the team is more touches for Lamar Jackson. That translates to another position.”
Polian's initial concerns were regarding Jackson's size and accuracy with the football. While the latter may be true, Jackson's 6-foot-3 frame is more than adequate enough to play the quarterback position. Meanwhile, there are other signal-callers in the draft that have also struggled with accuracy like Wyoming's Josh Allen, yet no one is suggesting he switch positions.
Despite Polian's attempts to clarify his judgment of the former Heisman Trophy winner, his comments hardly justify what was initially said. If Jackson is every bit the playmaker that Polian suggests he is, then it would make sense to have him be under center where he gets the ball every play. It goes without saying that Jackson was the ultimate dual-threat QB in college. That said, it would not be too far-fetched to imagine how that could translate to the next level.
Regardless, it is clear that there has been some unfair typecasting of Jackson's skill set going into the draft. Hopefully, all it has done is give the young prospect more motivation to work with when he finally does take that next step.
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