Lamar Jackson dissed again in annual QB tier survey

Lamar Jackson still isn't getting the love he deserves in The Athletic's annual NFL survey of coaches, scouts and executives ranking quarterbacks league-wide.

The survey – consisting of seven general managers, eight head coaches, 12 coordinators, 12 executives, eight assistant coaches and three involved in coaching/analytics – has Jackson as a tier-two quarterback for the second year.

His rank didn't change, despite being a two-time MVP and putting together one of the most impressive campaigns of his career. However, more shocking was who the survey-takers placed above him.

The two most infamous names: Josh Allen and Joe Burrow.

It makes no sense. Burrow spent most of the tail-end of the 2023 season injured. He managed to play 10 games. Allen, despite having ample talent around him, fizzled out in the playoffs again. Yet, he doesn't deal with nearly the same amount of disgruntled frustration that Jackson takes on.

To explain placing a league MVP as a tier two quarterback, one defensive coordinator pulled off an amazing feat of mental gymnastics.

“He’s a 1 with limitations for me,” a defensive coordinator said . “You can win a lot of games with him. When you watched it against Kansas City, he can’t pass when he has to. That is still true. But he is still a wonderful football player.”

In the voters' defense, Jackson surged to the brink of Tier 1 with more top-tier votes this year (23) than he commanded over the previous three combined (20). Still, they didn't put him in the Burrow, Allen and Patrick Mahomes territory – a place he undoubtedly belongs .

“I just think putting an MVP of this league in Tier 2 is being on some quarterback highhorse of what we think it’s supposed to look like,” a voter who placed Jackson in Tier 1 said.

Couldn't agree more. Regardless of what voters think, Jackson isn't too worried about the doubts and hate.