ESPN Admits ‘Controversial’ Decision With Ravens QB Rankings

The Baltimore Ravens have Lamar Jackson, which mean they automatically have one of the NFL’s best quarterback situations.

But the best?

That’s what ESPN.com’s Mike Clay believes, as he ranked Baltimore’s QB room No. 1 in a recent story ranking positional groups across the NFL.

“This will be controversial to some,” Clay wrote for ESPN.com, “but Lamar Jackson led all quarterbacks in QBR, ANY/A (adjusted net yards per passing attempt) and expected points added. Jackson has been an All-Pro for the past two seasons and won the NFL MVP in 2019 and 2023.”

Lamar Jackson Getting Deserved Credit, Might Be Getting Better

It’s hard to believe for someone who’s already won two MVP awards and nearly won a third in 2024, but the 28-year-old Jackson might just be entering his prime. Last season was statistically the best of his career, and he appears to only be improving.

“He fell just short of his second consecutive MVP last season despite career highs in passing yards (4,172) and passing touchdowns (41, tied for second in the league),” Clay continued. “The dual-threat quarterback has never finished a season lower than second among QBs in rushing yards, too.”

This comes on the heels of Jackson finally breaking into Tier 1 of The Athletic’s annual quarterback rankings. Jackson has left no doubt that he belongs in the same conversation as elite QBs like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow.

But as Clay notes, giving Jackson (and technically, backup Cooper Rush) the nod over everyone else is something few have done to this point.

But he’s not alone. ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky recently compiled his own rankings in which he scored players for various skills and traits. Jackson was the only QB to rank in the top four in each of Orlovsky’s seven criteria: arm strength, ball placement, mechanics, decision-making with the football, pocket presence, rushing ability and second-reaction ability.

Where Jackson Has Made His Biggest Strides

It’s actually kind of remarkable to look back at how Jackson has evolved and improved over the last few years. Then-quarterbacks coach James Urban is quoted on the team’s official website in 2021 as saying there were some clear areas for improvement, like mechanics and decision-making, specifically not trying to do too much.

Now, here we are just four years later, and one of the best-known quarterback analysts is praising Jackson for his mechanics (No. 4) and his decision-making (No. 3).

“Jackson led the league in wide-open target percentage, with 34.4% of his throws targeting receivers with 5 or more yards of separation, per NFL Next Gen Stats,” Orlovsky wrote for ESPN.com. “See the open man, throw to the open man. Burrow (1.4%), Allen (1.2%) and Jackson (0.8%) all ranked in the top five in interception rate last season, too.”

Unsurprisingly, the areas in which Jackson himself most wants to improve are intangible. He admitted he wanted to work hard on becoming a better leader and communicate better with his teammates. So far, it sounds as if he’s doing just that, with offensive coordinator Todd Monken praising the Louisville product for the strides he’s making in that regard, too.

Coincidentally, the critics will be put to the test right away. Jackson and the Ravens open the season with Allen and the Bills and Week 1 before a Week 4 showdown with Mahomes and Chiefs.

Travis Kelce Announces New Career Move After Taylor Swift Engagement

It’s already been a big week of news for Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, and that’s largely because Kelce, of course, and his girlfriend Taylor Swift announced their engagement. While this couple always seemed to be a match made in heaven, it was still a surprise that Kelce and Swift made the announcement this week, especially it being the same day the Chiefs announced their 53-man roster.

So, Kelce and Swift are all the talk right now, and it’s going to be exciting to see where and this couple gets married. Will they tie the knot at Arrowhead Stadium? Stranger things have happened.

Now, Kelce is in the news again, though, because on top of announcing that he’s engaged to Swift, he’s also dropping some career news. It’s not just about football for Kelce anymore, because he’s become something of a pop icon.

New Career Move for Travis Kelce

In addition to figuring out how to ask Swift for her hand in marriage, Kelce has been working on a fashion line with American Eagle. The brand actually announced the new line right around the same time that the couple announced their engagement.

The fashion line, called AE x Tru Kolors by Travis Kelce, is a limited-edition collaboration with Tru Kolors, Kelce’s sportswear and lifestyle brand. According to a release, the project has been in the works for more than a year. Kelce wasn’t just the face of this project, either. According to American Eagle, he served as Creative Director in the project.

“I’ve had to keep my excitement about this collab under wraps for nearly a year,” Kelce said in a statement. “It was an awesome opportunity to team up with an established brand where both sides were excited to truly collaborate on every decision in the design and creative process that brought the ‘AE x TK’ collection to life.”

He added, “I started Tru Kolors in 2019 on the foundation of showing up authentically and having fun with style, and we wanted this collab to reflect that same energy.”

Travis Kelce’s Involvement With the New Line

Kelce was reportedly involved with pretty much everything for this project. That means he helped with its design, including the fabrics and colors, and graphics, according to a release.

American Eagle Outfitters president and executive creative director Jennifer Foyle stated, “Travis’ infectious energy and dedication to every aspect of the collaboration brought a refreshing spirit to the team, inspiring us to explore bespoke fabrics and fits to showcase this collection through his distinct style and perspective.”

Kelce even reached out to some of his athlete friends to help launch the collection, including Olympian Suni Lee, college basketball star Azzi Fudd, college football quarterback Drew Allar, rising tennis star Anna Frey, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and basketball prospect Kiyan Anthony.

The collection launches first on Wednesday, August 27 with 90 pieces being available, and the second launch is set for September 24 with the entire collection being available.

“I want everyone to feel like there is something for them in the collection, something they can feel good in and make their own,” Kelce said. “I’m excited for it to finally be out in the world.”

It’s exciting to see Kelce doing more endeavors outside of football, even though he’ll always be a Kansas City Chiefs star. Now, especially with the Swift engagement, he’ll have a lot to keep him busy both on and off the field.

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