MSB Opinion: Lamar Jackson at No. 69? The NFL Top 100 Got It Completely Wrong

By Brian Hradsky | Maryland Sports Blog

When the NFL released players 70-61 on its annual NFL Top 100 Players of 2026 countdown, one name immediately stood out—and not in a good way.

Lamar Jackson came in at No. 69.

Nice number. Terrible ranking.

The two-time NFL MVP, arguably the most electrifying player in football, somehow dropped nearly 70 spots from last year’s list after battling injuries during the 2025 season. While Jackson admittedly didn’t have his best statistical year, ranking him outside the top 10—let alone at No. 69—is one of the biggest misses in the history of the NFL Top 100.

The Ravens’ franchise quarterback remains one of the league’s elite talents. More importantly, there still isn’t another player in football who changes a game quite like Lamar Jackson.

The Resume Is Already Hall of Fame Worthy

At just 29 years old, Jackson has already built a résumé most quarterbacks spend an entire career chasing.

Career accomplishments

• Two-time NFL Most Valuable Player
• Three-time First-Team All-Pro
• Four-time Pro Bowl selection
• One of only a handful of quarterbacks in NFL history to win multiple MVP awards
• NFL’s all-time leading rushing quarterback
• One of the winningest quarterbacks of his era

Those accomplishments alone should make it nearly impossible for him to fall anywhere close to No. 69.

A “Down Year” That Most Quarterbacks Would Love to Have

Critics will point to Jackson’s 2025 season.

Yes, injuries limited him to 13 games.

But context matters.

Despite missing four games, Jackson still finished with:

• 2,549 passing yards
• 21 passing touchdowns
• Seven interceptions
• 103.8 passer rating
• 8.4 yards per attempt

Those aren’t bad numbers.

Those are elite numbers.

The difference is that they came from Lamar Jackson, whose own standards are higher than almost every quarterback in football.

His Impact Goes Far Beyond The Box Score

Statistics only tell part of the story.

Every defensive coordinator spends an entire week trying to solve one question:

How do you stop Lamar Jackson?

There still isn’t an answer.

His presence alone changes defensive game plans.

Linebackers hesitate.

Safeties creep toward the line.

Edge rushers can’t simply attack the quarterback because one missed assignment becomes a 40-yard run.

Even when Jackson hands the football off, defenses are forced to account for him.

No quarterback creates more hesitation.

No quarterback forces more defensive discipline.

No quarterback changes the geometry of a defense the way Lamar Jackson does.

Career Comparison: Lamar Jackson vs. The NFL’s Elite

Lamar Jackson

Career Stats

• 116 games played
• 22,608 passing yards
• 160 passing touchdowns
• 55 interceptions
• 64.8% completion percentage
• 97.5 passer rating
• 6,845 rushing yards
• 40 rushing touchdowns
• 2× NFL MVP
• 3× First-Team All-Pro
• 4× Pro Bowl

Jackson is already the greatest rushing quarterback in NFL history. His combination of elite speed, vision, arm talent, and decision-making has redefined the quarterback position. Every snap presents the possibility of a game-changing play, whether through the air or on the ground.

Patrick Mahomes

Career Stats

• 126 games
• 35,939 passing yards
• 267 passing touchdowns
• 85 interceptions
• 66.2% completion percentage
• 100.8 passer rating
• 2,440+ rushing yards
• 20+ rushing touchdowns
• 2× NFL MVP
• Multiple Super Bowl champion
• Multiple Super Bowl MVP

Mahomes remains the NFL’s gold standard because of his postseason success and incredible arm talent. If you’re choosing one quarterback to win a Super Bowl today, Mahomes has earned that respect.

But Jackson presents a completely different challenge. Mahomes beats you with his arm and creativity. Jackson can beat you with his arm, his legs, or by simply forcing your defense to play differently before the ball is even snapped.

Josh Allen

Career Stats

• 128 games
• 30,102 passing yards
• 220 passing touchdowns
• 94 interceptions
• 64.0% completion percentage
• 94.4 passer rating
• 5,200+ rushing yards
• 65+ rushing touchdowns
• 1× NFL MVP

Allen is the only quarterback whose dual-threat ability comes close to Jackson’s. His size and physicality make him nearly unstoppable near the goal line.

However, Jackson is the more elusive athlete, the more dangerous open-field runner, and owns two MVP awards compared to Allen’s one.

Joe Burrow

Career Stats

• 75+ games
• 20,000+ passing yards
• 145+ passing touchdowns
• 50+ interceptions
• 68%+ completion percentage
• 100+ passer rating
• 900+ rushing yards

Burrow is one of football’s most accurate passers and perhaps the best pure pocket quarterback in today’s game.

But when protection breaks down, Jackson creates offense in ways Burrow simply cannot. Burrow extends plays with his mind. Jackson extends them with both his mind and world-class athleticism.

Matthew Stafford

Career Stats

• 240+ games
• 63,000+ passing yards
• 420+ passing touchdowns
• 225+ interceptions
• 63%+ completion percentage
• 91+ passer rating
• 1 Super Bowl championship
• 2025 NFL MVP

Stafford has had an outstanding career and enjoyed a tremendous 2025 season.

Still, he isn’t the nightmare matchup Jackson is. Stafford wins from the pocket. Jackson wins from everywhere.

The Most Dangerous Quarterback in Football

There are faster players.

There are stronger players.

There may even be quarterbacks with slightly better arms.

There isn’t another quarterback who combines:

• Elite passing ability
• World-class speed
• Running back vision
• Pocket awareness
• Leadership
• Football IQ
• Playmaking instincts

Jackson has changed the way NFL offenses are built.

Michael Vick introduced the league to the modern running quarterback.

Lamar Jackson perfected it.

Why Did Players Rank Him So Low?

The NFL Top 100 is voted on by players, making it one of the sport’s most respected honors.

So why did Jackson fall to No. 69?

The likely reasons include:

• Missing four games because of injuries.
• Players often place greater emphasis on the previous season than an entire career.
• New stars emerged around the league.

Even considering all of those factors, No. 69 is indefensible.

There simply are not 68 players in football more valuable than Lamar Jackson.

MSB Take

If I were starting an NFL franchise today, there is exactly one quarterback I would unquestionably draft ahead of Lamar Jackson:

Patrick Mahomes.

That’s it.

After Mahomes, Jackson belongs squarely in every conversation with Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and every other elite quarterback in football.

Two MVP awards.

Three First-Team All-Pro selections.

The greatest rushing quarterback the NFL has ever seen.

A player who forces defensive coordinators to tear up their game plans every Sunday.

Those credentials don’t belong to the 69th-best player in football.

They belong to one of the five best players in the NFL.

The NFL Top 100 has produced some questionable rankings over the years, but this one may age as one of its worst. If Lamar Jackson stays healthy in 2026, don’t be surprised if he reminds everyone exactly why he’s one of the most unique and dominant talents the league has ever seen.

MSB Grade: F

Ranking Lamar Jackson No. 69 isn’t just low—it’s a complete misunderstanding of his value. When healthy, Jackson isn’t merely one of the best quarterbacks in football; he’s one of the most dangerous players the NFL has ever seen. There’s no scenario where 68 players should be selected ahead of him. If anything, Jackson remains firmly in the top five, and there’s a compelling argument he should never fall outside the top 10 as long as he’s on the field.