The first set of the QB power rankings is out, and like every year, there have been snubs and dubs. While Patrick ‘Magic’ Mahomes being in the top position was quite expected, it was hereafter when the list gets divisive. CBS’ Cody Benjamin ranked the San Francisco 49ers’ Brock Purdy and Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen in the second and third position, respectively.

What raised many eyebrows was Lamar Jackson‘s position at sixth after Joe Burrow and C.J. Stroud, despite the Baltimore Ravens‘ star coming off his career-best season in 2023. And former New York Giants QB Danny Kanell couldn’t disagree more.

Lamar Jackson’s ranking “absurd“

While it’s true that the former Mr. Irrelevant proved all his critics wrong and led his team to the Super Bowl, Lamar Jackson has made a brand of his own. The Ravens starter is a two-time MVP and three-time Pro Bowl, having amassed 154 touchdowns in his six seasons at Baltimore. So when the 49ers star was placed above Jackson, Kanell couldn’t help but call the ranking “absurd.”

“Lamar Jackson is criminally underrated. Coming off of his second MVP season. Atrocious for him to be at No. #6.” The former NFL star also opined that one should make a list while considering how much the QB contributes to the team individually. “I think the way you have to do it when you do the list, what happens if you interchange a quarterback? Looking at the San Fransisco 49ers, …I think you can put ten quarterbacks into that system that would execute at the same level and success rate of Brock Purdy if not more.”

Apart from Purdy, Kanell also questioned Burrow’s position at the 4th spot, pointing out how the two seasons the Bengals quarterback “stayed healthy start-to-finish, he played in an AFC championship game.” The 2020 draft helped Cincinnati reach two back-to-back playoffs before a season-ending wrist injury cut his last year’s run short. Kanell is clearly not on the same page with Benjamin regarding the players placed before Jackson, with the obvious exception of Mahomes. However, he feels Josh Allen and C.J. Stroud fit their well-earned 3rd and 5th positions.

Do Josh Allen and C.J. Stroud deserve their rankings?

The sports broadcaster had very clear views about how the quarterbacks should be ranked. Kanell feels that a player who’s just popped into the scene in the last two seasons can’t be immediately ranked in one of the top spots, and consistency shouldn’t be ignored. “We get ahead of ourselves because of what you have done for me lately. A great season and the year before.”

He quoted Jalen Hurts as an example, saying that after the quarterback’s Super Bowl appearance, he was being pitched as the “second-best quarterback” of the league. However, later, the charm wore down, and that’s why the broadcaster felt, “You need to do it over time. A guy like Josh Allen, even though he hasn’t had postseason success that Brock Purdy has, has put the team on his back and carried the Buffalo Bills. Something he has to do again.” While the Bills star hasn’t been able to make it to the Lombardi Trophy yet, Allen hasn’t ever been disappointing. In week 4 of last season, the quarterback scored his first perfect passing rating of 158.3 and has a career record of 167 touchdowns, 22,703 yards, and 78 interceptions.

When it comes to NFL rankings, there’s always going to be supporters and naysayers. While Kanell’s opinions are for each to take or dismiss, Lamar Jackson’s snub can’t be denied.