Ravens pick Lions neg list QB Lamar Jackson to close out the first round of the NFL draft

The Baltimore Ravens selected 2016 Heisman Trophy winner, Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson with the final pick of the first round in the 2018 NFL draft.

Jackson was one of the most explosive football players in America and the B.C. Lions added him to their negotiation list on Jan. 4, 2016. That move came after Jackson put up 453 total yards and four touchdowns in Louisville’s 27-21 Music Bowl victory on Dec. 31, 2015.

“He’s dynamic and definitely has the arm strength to be a quarterback in the pros,” a CFL scout said. “Mike Vick is an easy comparison because no one has been that dynamic since Vick.”

The dual-threat QB threw for 3,543 yards, 30 touchdowns and nine interceptions while rushing for 1,571 yards and 21 more scores in 13 games for the University of Louisville in 2016. Those numbers earned Jackson the Heisman Trophy as he became just the third quarterback in FBS history to throw for 30 and rush for 20 touchdowns in a single season (Tim Tebow in 2007 and Cam Newton in 2010 were the others.) All three won the Heisman.

Jackson threw for 3,660 yards, 27 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing 59.1 per cent of his passes and rushed for 1,601 yards and 18 touchdowns named a Heisman finalist as a junior and declared for the NFL draft.

Joe Flacco is Baltimore’s quarterback for now, but Jackson is sure to get some consideration in the near future after Baltimore general manager Ozzie Newsome jumped back into the first round to snag the man who threw a combined 57 touchdown passes over the past two years. While Flacco is a stationary pocket passer, Jackson’s athletic skills, speed and running ability were enticing to Newsome.

-AP