3. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Jackson was one of the most impressive players in all of football last season, and it earned him a Most Valuable Player award and the Baltimore Ravens the first overall seed in the AFC. Of course, for the second year in a row the Ravens saw their playoff hopes dashed at home, as the Tennessee Titans and Derrick Henry came into M&T Bank Stadium and ran all over Baltimore.
But in the run-up to that game Jackson showed why he is a dynamic talent at the quarterback position. Of course what he can do with the football in his hands as a runner is irreplaceable. However, that almost sells short what Jackson has done as a passer. He was a better pocket passer than he was given credit for coming out of Louisville, and that ability showed up on film and in the numbers last season. When kept clean in the pocket, Jackson posted an NFL passer rating of 118.5 last year, second only to Drew Brees. He also completed 70.9% of his throws from clean pockets for 2,476 yards and 26 touchdowns, against only four interceptions. When pressured? Jackson was just as good. He put up an NFL passer rating of 97.7 when under duress (second again to Brees) and his Adjusted Completion Percentage of 67.9% when pressured was sixth-best in the league.
Jackson can do everything you want from a modern quarterback. Now he just needs that first playoff win. Odds are he gets that done in 2020.