Louisville’s Lamar Jackson declares for 2018 NFL Draft

JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 30: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Louisville Cardinals directs the offense in the first half of the TaxSlayer Bowl against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at EverBank Field on December 30, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 30: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Louisville Cardinals directs the offense in the first half of the TaxSlayer Bowl against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at EverBank Field on December 30, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Louisville quarterback and former Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson has entered the 2018 NFL Draft, making a deep class of QBs even better…

Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, the most dynamic playmaker in college football, has declared for the 2018 NFL Draft.

Jackson released a post on his Twitter account announcing his intentions for the coming season.

Check it out:

Jackson did the right thing, I think, as he had nothing to prove yet in college and everything to lose if he would go back and get hurt. As of right now, I would consider Jackson a first round pick in my own eyes, but there are rumors floating around that most teams don’t see him as a day one selection.

I think that would be a mistake.

Jackson is the only player in this draft that can do the things he can do. I know that might sound ridiculous, but it’s true.

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This is a guy who can run a 4.3 second 40-yard dash, and who can also throw the ball 70-80 yards in the air with the flick of a wrist. Jackson has proven over the past year that he is improved as a pocket passer, and I think he’s only going to get better from here.

There have been many talking about Jackson as a potential wide receiver convert at the NFL level, and I think if you hear or read of anyone talking like that, you should hit the mute button. This guy is a rare playmaker from the quarterback position, and he shouldn’t be moved to a different skill spot just because he’s really fast and good with the ball in his hands.

What makes Jackson so special is not just his speed and elusiveness in the open field, but his ability to be a dual threat and beat you with his arm.

Which he can.

Is he flawless as a quarterback prospect? Absolutely not, but neither is anyone else in the 2018 NFL Draft class, which is now loaded at the quarterback position.

As a matter of fact, Jackson declaring solidifies my top five quarterbacks in the class…

I think we could see Jackson as a fourth first round quarterback taken, and with his declaration, it wouldn’t surprise me to see as many as six signal callers gone in the first round.