There’s been buzz brewing for weeks that the New England Patriots are very interested in Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner.
On Wednesday, Jackson opened about some topics, which were shared by Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com. Jackson was asked how he’d feel if the Patriots used their draft assets to move up in the first round and trade him. Not surprisingly, he said he’d “love that.”
Then, he dropped a line that had us in stitches. Jackson said he could teach Tom Brady how to move better, noting Brady could teach him all the fundamentals.
We’re not so sure about that first part. Brady moves pretty well for a guy his age, but even going back to his days as a spring chicken he’s never been particularly athletic. So, he’s likely not capable of learning much from a guy who can do stuff like this without breaking a sweat.
The second part of that is absolutely true. Brady is the master of using fundamentals to turn himself into a deadly passer, coming into the league without any real strong physical attributes to speak of. Jackson, on the other hand, is one of the most talented individuals to enter the NFL in a long time, blessed with natural athletic abilities that most elite receivers would give their pinkie toe to match.
The Patriots would be set up for a long time if they did draft Jackson to become Brady’s eventual heir apparent. He needs time to learn the nuances of the pro game and would benefit greatly from sitting behind one of the game’s all-time greats for a year or longer.