Lamar Jackson Signs With Jets, Will Play for New York Next Season

23-year old quarterback Lamar Jackson went unnoticed during the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. This took many by surprise, since a few mock drafts predicted that he would get snapped up by the third round. Unfortunately, the 6 foot 2 in, 210-pound player eventually agreed to a free agent deal with the New York Jets.

Admittedly, even Jackson had no idea why teams snubbed him in the draft. When he spoke to the Journal Star, he confessed that the disappointment is now behind him.

“I can literally say today was one of the most difficult days of my life,” he said. “Probably watched about five picks when it first started today, but after that I was pretty much losing my mind. I have a fast mind and I constantly think and process stuff. So I was just hurt. I was taking walks, was isolating myself, walking around the neighbourhood yelling. I was truly going crazy.:

According to NFL.com, Lamar Jackson possesses a “rare cornerback size with length to match”. Statistically, he intercepted five passes in the past two seasons, including three in 2019. On the downside, he needs to work on his instincts and overall awareness. In addition to that, Jackson cannot adapt to misdirection and come up with a plan on the fly.

What next for Lamar Jackson?

After the snub, Jackson has not made the Jets as his new destination, as a free agent. He can take comfort in the fact that former teammate Luke Gifford followed a similar path into the NFL. The Dallas Cowboys recruited Gifford as an undrafted free agent last year, despite attracting plenty of attention.

Since then, he steadily moved up the ladder, performing well in the preseason and made it into the team, Although a high ankle sprain and a fractured left arm cost him, he appeared in six games before the latter injury ended his season.

Jackson knows Gifford’s story well, and hopes that he too will meet some success and prove his doubters wrong. He said, “By the time the draft was over, I found out I had an opportunity (with the Jets). I talked to my agent, a couple family members who calmed me down. I got it all out, I cried, I stressed. But at the end of the day, it’s over with. I’m not going to sit here and stress about it one more day. I’ll lay my head on the pillow tonight and then wake up and get to work.