Ravens Owner Reflects on Lamar Jackson’s Draft Journey
When the Baltimore Ravens selected Lamar Jackson with the final pick of the 2018 NFL Draft’s first round, many viewed the dynamic Louisville quarterback as a high-risk prospect. But team owner Steve Bisciotti never saw it that way.
“To me, it wasn’t a risk,” Bisciotti recently reflected. “If it didn’t work out, that would have been our failure, not Lamar’s.” The Ravens strategically traded up to No. 32 to select Jackson, who initially served as backup to Super Bowl-winning QB Joe Flacco.
Jackson’s opportunity came sooner than expected when Flacco suffered a midseason injury in 2018. The rookie led Baltimore to a 6-1 finish and division title, then followed with a historic 2019 MVP campaign. Now with two MVP awards and consistently elite play, Jackson has silenced early doubters who questioned his passing ability.
Under offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Jackson has developed into one of the NFL’s most complete quarterbacks while maintaining his record-breaking rushing prowess. His evolution has transformed what was once considered an “out-of-the-box” selection into one of the franchise’s greatest draft decisions.
Bisciotti’s comments highlight Baltimore’s forward-thinking approach in building around Jackson’s unique skillset – a philosophy that has kept the Ravens perennial contenders in the AFC.
