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The Secret Reason Zay Flowers Will Dominate TDs This Year
Lamar Jackson’s Low NFL Ranking Sparks Debate: Is He Being Judged Unfairly?
What Is the "NFL Top 100" List?
Imagine all the players in the NFL getting together to vote on who the best 100 players are. That’s exactly what the "NFL Top 100" is—a yearly list where players vote for players. It’s like a popularity contest, but for football skills.
This year, the list is being revealed in chunks. And Baltimore Ravens fans are not happy.
The Big Controversy: Lamar Jackson at #69
Lamar Jackson, the Ravens’ quarterback and two-time MVP (Most Valuable Player), landed at #69 on the list.
That’s a massive drop of 67 spots from last year, when he was ranked #2 overall.
Jackson says he doesn’t care about the ranking. But fans? They’re frustrated. And when you look at the numbers, it’s easy to see why.
The Comparison That Has Everyone Talking: Joe Burrow at #44
On Thursday, the NFL announced that Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow checked in at #44.
| Stat | Lamar Jackson (Ravens) | Joe Burrow (Bengals) |
|---|---|---|
| Rank | #69 | #44 |
| Games Played | 13 | 8 |
| Drop from Last Year | 67 spots (from #2) | 38 spots (from #6) |
| Passer Rating | Better | Lower |
| Deep Ball Rating (20+ yards) | League-best 132.4 | Not league-leading |
| Team Defense Rank | 24th (near bottom) | Better |
| Injury | Played on bad hamstring since Week 3 | Injury-hampered season |
Important Point: Jackson played 5 more games than Burrow, put up better stats, did it with a much worse defense, and played hurt for most of the season. Yet Burrow is ranked 25 spots higher.
Other Quarterbacks Ranked Ahead of Jackson
So far, these QBs have been placed above Jackson on the list:
- Caleb Williams – #51 (Rookie)
- Jalen Hurts – #56
- Bo Nix – #59 (Rookie)
- Trevor Lawrence – #62
- Joe Burrow – #44
There are still about 40 players left to be revealed, and experts guess 8 more quarterbacks will be on the list. That would push Jackson to roughly QB14—meaning 13 quarterbacks are considered "better" than a two-time MVP.
Why Do People Think This Is Unfair?
The "Double Standard" Argument
Writer Connor Burke (Ebony Bird) and Ravens Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter both say Jackson is held to a different, harsher standard than other top quarterbacks.
"Look, there may not even be one other player in the league better than Lamar, let alone 68 players better than him."
— Jesse Minter, Ravens Defensive Coordinator, on "The Lounge" podcast
The Evidence for Jackson’s Case
Here’s what Jackson did last season that often gets overlooked:
- Played 13 games (Burrow played 8)
- League-leading 132.4 passer rating on deep throws (20+ yards)
- Kept Ravens in playoff hunt until the final week
- Did it all with the 24th-ranked defense (one of the worst in the NFL)
- Played through a hamstring injury starting in Week 3
Meanwhile, Burrow’s drop was less steep despite playing far fewer games and not outperforming Jackson statistically.
What This Really Means
The "NFL Top 100" is voted on by players—not coaches, not analysts, not fans. So it reflects how players feel about each other right now.
But feelings aren’t always facts.
Jackson just came off a season where he:
- Was efficient
- Was available
- Was explosive downfield
- Carried a flawed team
And yet, the respect from his peers plummeted.
Summary
- Lamar Jackson ranked #69 in the NFL Top 100 (player-voted list).
- Joe Burrow ranked #44 despite playing 5 fewer games and having worse stats.
- Jackson had a better passer rating, best deep-ball rating in the league, played hurt, and dragged a bad defense to the playoff brink.
- Four other QBs (Williams, Hurts, Nix, Lawrence) are also ranked ahead of him.
- Experts and insiders call it a double standard—Jackson is judged more harshly than other elite QBs.
- Ravens DC Jesse Minter says the ranking is "beyond laughable."
FAQ
Why does the NFL Top 100 matter if it’s just a popularity contest?
It doesn’t decide games or contracts. But it shapes narratives. It affects how players are talked about, marketed, and remembered. When a two-time MVP is ranked 69th, it sends a message—fair or not.
Did Lamar Jackson play badly last year?
No. He had one of the best deep-ball seasons ever (132.4 rating on 20+ yard throws), played 13 games on a bad hamstring, and kept a team with a bottom-tier defense alive until Week 18.
Why did Joe Burrow drop less than Jackson?
Burrow dropped 38 spots (from #6 to #44). Jackson dropped 67 (from #2 to #69). Burrow played only 8 games. The voting seems to penalize Jackson more for team struggles than Burrow for missing time.
Is this just Ravens fans complaining?
No. Neutral analysts, writers (like Connor Burke), and even opposing coaches (Jesse Minter) have called the ranking illogical and unfair. The stats back it up.
Will this affect Jackson’s legacy or contract?
Not directly. He already has a massive contract and two MVPs. But it does show how quickly narratives shift—and how some stars get the benefit of the doubt while others don’t.
