Quarterback Lamar Jackson's sudden dip in his NFL top 100 rankings has become a talking point in the NFL community. From a second-place position last year in 2025, his fall to the 69th position has baffled everyone.

No one was as baffled and bitter, however, as former safety Ryan Clark. Absolutely livid at the way Jackson was snubbed, Clark had some choice words for the NFL as he joined the First Take podcast.

"Outside of Patrick Mahomes, there is no more accomplished quarterback in the entire NFL individually," said Clark on ESPN's First Take Podcast.

"There’s no quarterback who carries more than Lamar Jackson. No quarterback’s asked to do more than Lamar Jackson."

Clark would even go further to show how Lamar Jackson has "single-handedly" carried the offense of the Baltimore Ravens.

"You have to have a game plan for in the pass game. And then you have to have a secondary game plan for when he does Lamar Jackson-type stuff," Clark further added in the same podcast.

Jackson is also a two-time MVP and three-time All-Pro. The safety would also compliment Jackson, calling him a first-ballot Hall of Famer already. Clark believes that this step by the NFL has shown severe errors in their judgment.

"That’s disrespect; I expected executives to not know where to place him," added Clark, "I expected marketers and brands to not understand the power of his voice. What I didn’t expect is dudes who have to line up in pads on Sundays and Thursdays and Wednesdays and Fridays and whatever the h*** other days that we’re going to see NFL games this year, to not understand how scary it is to walk on the field when this dude is right."

His words suggest critics could soon be forced to rethink their assessment if the Ravens star turns the perceived snub into motivation.

"And I feel like people have forgotten who Lamar Jackson truly is. And so if he's motivated in the way that it seems this season working with Declin Doyle now, the new offensive coordinator, I can't wait to see what he does because clearly there's still a lot to prove for a man that's changed the way the game of football has been played from the quarterback position," he added.

The complete disregard for Jackson's injury was also evident in Clark's voice. He missed four games with hamstring and back issues that saw his efficiency decline. Clark raises questions about whether such a minor health-related slip-up warrants such a big drop.

Clark may have sided with Jackson, but the NFL insider Colin Cowherd has a completely different perspective on the matter.

NFL insider brutally criticizes Lamar Jackson

Colin Cowherd of Fox Sports gave a scathing blow to Lamar Jackson with his jibe towards his playing style. Speaking on his "The Herd" show, Cowherd had this to say.

“For years and years, you guys kept telling me, ‘you gotta get out of the Lamar business,’ and I’m like, ‘I know, '" said Cowherd. "He’s not good in the playoffs, 84 passer rating in the playoffs, lower than Ryan Tannehill. There’s nothing I can say about it; I think he gets nervous.

"Caleb Williams, to me now, is a much better quarterback. I’d take Bo Nix today in a 4th quarter come-from-behind situation over Lamar.”

This logic by Cowherd was challenged by NFL expert James Dudko. The writer claims it was Jackson's teammates who let him down. Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field goal attempt. Tight end Mark Andrews missed out on a two-point conversion during the 2024 postseason.

So he has been at the receiving end of quite some misfortune. New offensive coordinator Declan Doyle is now part of the Baltimore Ravens roster and is expected to fix the offensive issues.

Jackson would surely be keen to work in unison with Doyle so that he can answer those doubters. Will Jackson be able to bounce back stronger than ever?

Let us know through your comments.

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Written by

Sourav Ganguly

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason