One of the biggest storylines surrounding the 2018 NFL Draft are the reports regarding Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson. Despite being the most decorated quarterback in his class, there is speculation as to whether or not his skill set translates to the next level.
As a result, he has largely been dropped out of the conversation when it comes to being the first quarterback taken off the board. However, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, a strong combine performance has one team glowing about his potential:
Article Continues BelowLeftover tidbit from weekend combine: one team said it had Louisville’s Lamar Jackson as the second-rated QB in upcoming NFL draft.
Jackson has been arguably the most electrifying player in college football over the past few years en route to countless honors. However, the former Heisman Trophy winner has been the latest victim of what many feel is a typecasting of African-American quarterbacks. There were even reports that teams were requesting for him to perform wide receiver drills at the combine.
Needless to say, Jackson has done a remarkable job of staying focused on the task at hand. He has certainly gotten off on the right foot with a strong outing at the combine. It seems to have paid off now that teams are starting to take notice of his legitimacy under center.
However, Jackson is accompanied by a bevy of other notable gunslingers as well, such as USC's Sam Darnold and Wyoming's Josh Allen. Even UCLA's Josh Rosen and Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield have been recognized as better prospects. That said, it will be interesting to see in which order they are taken in this year's quarterback-heavy draft.