By admin 
In his recent quarterback rankings, Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame placed Jackson fourth behind Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Brock Purdy. This is not the biggest surprise considering how well the three quarterbacks ahead of him have played. However, Jackson has already proven he can be arguably the best quarterback in the league at his best, and in Declan Doyle’s offensive system, he could reach those heights again.
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A Higher Gear
There is no denying that Jackson has been elite this season. According to Player Profiler, he ranks second in true passer rating, third in QBR, fifth in EPA, and first in first-down rate. He is still an elite rusher, ranking second in yards per carry at 7.58. Perhaps the most encouraging sign for Jackson, however, is how dynamic Baltimore’s offense has looked under new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle.
This season, Jackson is averaging 9.4 air yards per attempt according to NFL Savant; this not only sits in the 100th percentile league-wide, but is also a career high for the quarterback. He has already attempted 14 deep passes this season and completed six of them; what has helped this has been his success in the short game to set these bigger shots up. Jackson has completed 92% of his passes behind the line of scrimmage this season, and the Ravens average 5.8 yards per catch on those plays, an improvement from their 3.8 yards per catch last season.
Jackson’s 43% deep pass percentage already outclasses Purdy’s 29% and is equal to Allen‘s and Mahomes’s, so getting a big deep-ball threat back in Ja’Kobi Lane could be a case of the rich getting richer. Lane’s 6’4 frame and large catch radius are a big reason why he was valued coming into the NFL Draft; adding him alongside Zay Flowers, who has been excellent at turning short throws into massive gains, could lead to more explosive plays.
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The Ravens still rely heavily on their rushing attack, with Derrick Henry recording at least 20 carries in four of five games this season. Although Jackson remains an effective runner, he hasn’t been carrying the ball nearly as frequently as in previous years. He is averaging roughly 4.8 carries per game, compared to 8.2 during his outstanding 2024 campaign. Whether that change reflects Baltimore’s offensive approach or a desire to limit Jackson’s exposure to unnecessary hits remains unclear, but it is worth considering when evaluating his overall production.
Given how explosive Baltimore’s offense already is, Jackson might not need to run as frequently to remain among the NFL’s best quarterbacks. Instead, he can focus on distributing the ball to his playmakers while still showcasing the jaw-dropping athleticism that makes him so dangerous when the situation calls for it. With Lane returning and Jackson continuing to develop within Doyle’s system, his fourth-place ranking might be due for a change.
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This story was originally published October 14, 2026 at 8:40 PM.