Louisville Football: Is Lamar Jackson a sure-fire franchise quarterback?

In a recent NFL.com piece, Bucky Brooks declared there to be no sure-fire franchise QBs in the 2018 class. Can Louisville football's Lamar Jackson prove him wrong?

Franchise quarterbacks are hard to find.

Having one could very well be the difference between playing in January and taking an early vacation. The only problem? There simply are not enough franchise-caliber QBs.

Every year a number of young signal-callers enter the NFL with dreams of becoming the next great superstar, yet year after year numerous teams find themselves picking toward the top of the NFL Draft dreaming of selecting a player to turn their franchise around.

Players like Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees have led their respective teams to countless playoff berths over their decade spanning careers and returned home as Super Bowl champions.

There is no definitive definition of what exactly makes up a franchise quarterback, but it is fairly well accepted that at any given time there are only a dozen or so franchise quarterbacks in the NFL.

When a team invests a first-round draft pick in a quarterback, they want a player who can lead their team for years to come, and one whom they can build their squad, staff and playbook around. However, based on recent data, there are teams who would be happy just to get a consistent starter as a return on their investment.

Since 2012, there have been 18 QBs taken in the first round alone and 21 in the first 60 picks. These players have had very different careers, careers that can help to set up a basis for us to compare future prospects to.

While teams like the Seahawks and the Cowboys have found starting quarterbacks in the 3rd day of the NFL draft, these are the exception not the rule. If a team truly wants to optimize their chances of drafting a starting QB, they will typically be looking for one in the first round.

There are currently four quarterbacks that are getting early consideration to be first round caliber players. This piece will evaluate Lamar Jackson, Louisville's Heisman Trophy winning sophomore signal-caller, against his peers, past and present, to see if he truly deserves to be a team's future starting quarterback.

Meet the Player

Lamar Jackson was born in Pompano Beach, Fla., on Jan. 7, 1997.

Even from a young age Jackson's athleticism was hard to ignore. While a member of the North West Broward Raiders, an 11-year-old Lamar ran for two touchdowns in the Boynton Beach youth athletic championship game, single-handedly outscored his opponent 12-6.

Lamar continued to impress through middle school, but the transition to high school did not go as smoothly.

Jackson's grades began to slip, prompting his mother, Felicia Jones, to move the family to nearby Boynton Beach so that Jackson could attend Boynton Beach Community High School.  After  maintaining a straight-A average over his first two semesters at Boyton Beach, Jackson joined the varsity football squad.

In two seasons as the Bengal Tiger's starting quarterback, Lamar was a revelation. Jackson's unique skill-set allowed head-coach Rick Swain to forgo his typical Wing T offense and instead implemented an option-based pistol offense to great effect.  Jackson threw for 2,263 yards and rushed for 1,624 yards in his 16 career starts and scored 53 touchdowns (31 passing and 22 rushing).

While Jackson's high school production was impressive his services weren't highly sought after.

Lamar didn't attend high profile quarterback camps while in high school, and ended his junior season as a three-star recruit. While scouts were impressed by his athleticism, some schools didn't even view Jackson as a quarterback, with colleges like Florida State instead envisioning Lamar as a defensive back.

One coach who did showed interest in Lamar early on was Bobby Petrino, head coach of the Louisville Cardinals. After learning about Jackson from former Louisville receiver coach Lamar Thomas, Patrino became intrigued by Lamar's fit in his pro-style scheme and offered Jackson a scholarship.

After receiving offers from 17 schools, including heavy interest from local powerhouse Florida, Lamar Jackson chose to take his talents to Louisville, Kentucky, and the rest is history.

Measurables

Lamar Jackson is listed at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds.

Of the 21 quarterbacks taken in the top 60 picks of the NFL draft since 2012 only three measured shorter than Jackson.

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NFL teams typically favor taller quarterbacks for their ability to better see the field. While Jackson is a dynamic athlete, there is a real possibility that he could have trouble transitioning into a pro-style offense and reading opposing defenses from the pocket.

While Lamar is slightly shorter than the prototypical NFL quarterback the real concern scouts will have is with his weight.

Of the 21 quarterbacks taken in the top 60 picks of the NFL draft since 2012 every single player weighed more than Jackson.

Lamar Jackson is not just small by top quarterback prospect standards, he is small by NFL standards. To put things into context former Louisville Cardinal DeVante Parker is currently listed at 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds, and he plays receiver.

There is not a single starting quarterback in the NFL who plays at 205 pounds. The closest is Drew Brees, who plays at 209 pounds, but is a full three inches shorter than Jackson.

Teams are afraid to invest highly in a quarterback of Lamar's size because they are perceived to be more susceptible to injury. While Brees has been extremely reliable in his career, starting 223 games in his 16 year NFL career, his career was almost ended on the last game of his fifth season.

Brees damaged his throwing shoulder joint while diving for a fumble and the future of his playing career was far from certain. After multiple surgeries Drew found himself without a team, and no guarantee that he'd ever be back to his previous form.

Obviously Brees eventually did return to his former form after signing a deal with the New Orleans Saints, with offers on the table from the Dolphins and Charger, and the rest is history.

The Saints won the Super Bowl in 2010, a feat that neither the Chargers nor the Dolphins can boast, but had Brees never returned to his former form, his squad could very well be stuck in a perpetual limbo.

While Lamar Jackson has yet to experience any major injuries, some teams will view him as a ticking time bomb. The only true way for Jackson to silence his doubters is to gain weight, but bulking up could affect the speed that makes Jackson such a dynamic prospect.

Lamar Jackson is supremely talented, but if he can't remain healthy he very well could end up being a "best that never was" story.

Dec 31, 2016; Orlando , FL, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) drops to throw during the first quarter of an NCAA football game against the LSU Tigers in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

College production

One thing scouts don't need to worry about from Lamar Jackson is his college production.

In two season leading Bobby Patrino's high powered offense, Lamar has absolutely lit up Football Bowl Subdivision, throwing for 5,383 yards and rushing for 2,531 yards in 25 games. Jackson also had a nose for the endzone, scoring 74 total touchdowns (42 passing, 32 rushing) thus far in his career.

Of the 21 quarterbacks taken in the top 60 picks of the NFL draft since 2012, none have rushed for 2,531 yards over the course of their college careers, and Jackson has done it with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Additionally Lamar's 32 rushing touchdowns is tied with Robert Griffin III for the most of any top quarterback prospect since 2012, a tie he will surely break this fall.

The only other first-round quarterback to rush for more yards than Jackson in his college career was Vince Young, who rushed for 3,127 yards in three seasons with the Texas Longhorns. After averaging 100 yards per game in his first two seasons at Louisville, it would appear that Lamar will more than likely finish his college career as the most prolific rushing quarterback in NCAA history.

While no one will doubt Jackson's abilities as a runner, his passing abilities are less vocally acclaimed.

In 25 starts, Lamar has thrown for 5,383 yards, but has only completed 55.6 percent of his passes. There has not been a single quarterback taken in the top 60 picks since 2012 who has completed less than 56 percent of his passes.

While Jackson isn't the most accurate quarterback in college football, he's one of the most exciting to watch.

Lamar was arguably one of the most dynamic player in NCAA football last season, and his statistical dominance eventual led to Lamar being named the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner.

Lamar Jackson was only the fourth sophomore ever to win the award, and the first player from Louisville to do so. As Jackson prepares for what could very well be his college football swan-song in the 2017 season, he will be one of the rare quarterbacks who wins a Heisman and than returns to school for another campaign.

The 2017 Louisville Cardinals will return a roster that is largely unchanged from the one Jackson won a Heisman Trophy with only a season ago. If Jackson can improve his accuracy and continue to carve up opposing defenses like he did only a season ago he could very well be the first player in history to win two Heisman Trophies back to back.

Scouting Report

While Lamar Jackson isn't a perfect prospect, it's hard not to absolutely fall in love with his jaw-dropping athletic abilities.

One things scouts will notice is that Jackson has a cannon for an arm.

On this play Lamar takes the snap from the pistol formation. After faking the ball to his running back, Jackson launches a play-action pass 50 yards in the air, connecting with receiver James Quick in stride for a 72-yard touchdown.

While Jackson does need to work on his accuracy, there is no doubt that he has pure arm talent that some coach will fall in love with.

Though not an in-game pass, this video shows Jackson sailing a pass from endzone to endzone while still a prospect in high school. While this skill will seldom be needed in an actual game it does highlight Jackson's incredible natural gifts.

In addition to Jackson's arm talent he is an incredible rusher.

On this play, Jackson is lined up in a split backfield with backs on either side of him. Jackson, a master of play action, takes the snap from his center and keeps the read-option. Lamar bursts through the line and speeds past opposing defenders. He eludes his initial tackler at the 5-yard-line mark and makes his way into the endzone for a 47-yard touchdown.

Jackson is a prolific college player, and will surely turn heads at the NFL combine. Not only will Jackson's 40-yard dash be one of the biggest stories of the combine, but other tests could be equally exciting

This play, fondly known by many as the "Lamar Leap" highlights just how athletic Jackson is. After again faking the hand-off, Jackson darted toward the sideline, only to find a defender ready to deny his touchdown. But Jackson could not be stopped. While Lamar could have easily attempted to eluded his would-be tackler, breaking his ankles in the process, he instead decided that the more appropriate solution was instead to hurdle the defensive back, posterizing him in the process.

After any extended time evaluating Jackson's tape, it becomes apparent just how dynamic a player he is. Lamar isn't just another dual threat college quarterback, he is Allen Iverson in shoulder pads, dropping dimes, bursting past defenders and consistently crossing over would-be tacklers.

Final Thoughts

Lamar Jackson may be the most polarizing player in the entire 2018 draft class.

Some scouts see Jackson as the second coming of Michael Vick, a quarterback who has been an outspoken fan of Lamar, a dual-threat quarterback who could break records, juke defenders and become an eventual pro bowler.

Others will view Jackson as the second coming of Terrelle Pryor, a dynamic college quarterback who's now a 1,000 yard receiver for the Washington Redskins.

How Lamar's eventual NFL career turns out could very well end up being directly linked to his ability to improve as a passer.

One major thing Lamar Jackson has shown the ability to do over the course if his young football career is his desire to rise to the occasion.

After experiencing initial issues with eligibility in his first year of high school, Jackson and his mother moved to a new district, and spent the next year improving his grades with the goal of  become eligible.

Additionally, while Jackson could have committed to a school that runs a more traditional read-option based spread scheme like Oregon, he instead chose to attend Louisville University, and lead Bobby Patrino's more traditional offense.

Lamar chose to attend Louisville because he wanted to learn to play from the pocket, and ultimately be better prepared for the pro game. If he can continue to advance as a passer, learning to take snaps from under center and even start to read opposing defenses it will go a long way to alleviate scouts worries that Jackson can't grow to become a legitimate professional signal caller.

Regardless of how Louisville performs in the upcoming 2017 college football season, Lamar Jackson's dynamic play-making abilities will surely make him one of the most highly debated players in the forthcoming class, a situation that is not soon to change.