Fansided
Fansided

Grading the first-round rookie QBs at the halfway point of the season

By Joel Deering

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns in action during their game against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 30, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns in action during their game against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 30, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 9: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens warms up prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at M&T Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 9: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens warms up prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at M&T Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images) /

32nd Overall Pick – Lamar Jackson – Baltimore Ravens

Games Started: 0

Record in Games Started: N/A

Passing Stats: 54.5% completions for 75 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs and a QB rating of 106.2.

Rushing Stats: 23 attempts for 129 yards 1 TD.

Analysis: Lamar Jackson has been the hardest first-round rookie QB for me to evaluate. Jackson hasn’t started a single game because Joe Flacco is having a great season. Although he hasn’t started a game, Jackson has seen some game action. Jackson has been used in a limited role, mostly for rushing plays. Jackson is second in rushing yards among the five first-round rookie QBs.

With a limited amount of passing attempts, Jackson has looked pretty good. His completion percentage isn’t great, but he’s thrown a TD. Most importantly, he hasn’t thrown an INT. That’s in a very limited role though. He has just 11 passing attempts. Five of those came last week against the Panthers.

It’s because of his limited role that I can’t give Jackson a complete grade. I’m giving him a C because it’s an average grade. We have to wait for Jackson to take on more responsibility before giving him an accurate grade.

Grade: C

There’s still a lot of time left for these first-round rookie QBs to make their mark in the NFL. Who they are now likely won’t be who they are three years from now, but what we’ve seen to this point in the season is all we have to go off at this point.

Which first-round rookie QB do you think is having the best rookie season through eight weeks?

Home/NFL Hot Takes