Who's No. 1 in Final QB Rankings, Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen?
The months-long Lamar Jackson-Josh Allen debate about which was the top quarterback this past season isn't over just yet.
Jackson was named first-team All-Pro, but Allen won the MVP award. So who took the No. 1 spot in NFL.com’s Nick Shook’s final 2024 quarterback rankings?
It was Jackson for the second year in a row. It's the third time Jackson has been No. 1 in the final rankings (that's one more than the Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes), which are based on the regular season and the playoffs.
"For as excellent as Jackson's 2023 MVP season was, his 2024 campaign was better in almost every category," Shook wrote. "Jackson posted career-best totals in passing touchdowns and passing yards, threw just four interceptions, ran for nearly 1,000 yards, added four rushing scores and powered the Ravens, and their top-ranked offense, to 12 regular-season wins and the AFC North title.
"Just two elements were missing from his best overall season: a signature playoff win (and/or Super Bowl run) and a third league MVP. If it was up to me, No. 8 would have won No. 3. In a field filled with fantastic signal-callers, Jackson reigns supreme – again."
Allen was No. 2 for the second straight year.
"Yep, the 2024 league MVP isn't the top-ranked player in this year's final QB Index," Shook wrote. "As fantastic as Allen was this year, I simply thought Jackson was better. That's not meant as a slight against the Bills passer, though, or to take anything away from his exceptional season."
Majority of ESPN Experts Pick Ravens to Win Super Bowl Next Season
ESPN's panel of 13 NFL experts made their early predictions for next season's Super Bowl, and the Ravens received the most votes.
Five of the panelists picked the Ravens. Another had the Ravens losing to the Detroit Lions in the Super Bowl. The Bills (three votes) were the only other team to get more than one vote to hoist the Lombardi Trophy next February.
Here's a look at the matchups that involved the Ravens:
Jason Reid, Andscape senior NFL writer: Ravens over Eagles. "Jackson can complete his ascent to the top of the league by dazzling throughout the playoffs and helping the Ravens dethrone the defending champs."
Ben Solak, NFL analyst: Ravens over Packers. "The Packers should only get better with time, as they're a young team with enough resources to make one or two splash additions this offseason. The AFC will still be highly contentious, but the Ravens did a great job weathering the brain drain of last offseason and will enter 2025 with much more stability."
Mike Tannenbaum, NFL analyst: Ravens over Lions. "Arguably two of the best teams in 2024 get to the big game in 2025. Baltimore's youth will greatly improve in the secondary, and Aidan Hutchinson will register 18 sacks to win Defensive Player of the Year."
Lindsey Thiry, national NFL reporter: Ravens over Eagles. "With the return of Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and several key players on a standout defense, the Eagles have the roster and know the formula to make another Super Bowl run. But the Ravens – after having their postseason runs end prematurely the past three seasons – finally finish the job with bolstered protection around Jackson."
Field Yates, NFL analyst: Ravens over Eagles. "The battle of the birds. Baltimore has the players in place to make a run, but it must prove that it has the capacity to get over the playoff hump. I think the Ravens will do so against Philly, which is well set up for another deep run next season."
Matt Bowen, NFL analyst: Lions over Ravens. "Even with the departure of Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, this is still Dan Campbell's football program. And with pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson anchoring a healthy defense, the Lions will edge out Lamar Jackson in Super Bowl LX."
The panel also made their MVP predictions. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels led the way with three votes apiece, followed by Jackson and Mahomes, who each had two votes.
Pundit Proposes Davante Adams Trade to the Ravens That 'Could Shake Up 2025 Season'
Pro Football Focus’ Mason Cameron proposed five trades that "could shake up the 2025 season," one of which was the Ravens dealing for New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams.
"The Ravens have needed more receiver help in the form of a difference-making X-receiver after finding success with Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman in recent campaigns," Cameron wrote. "Despite being snubbed for the MVP, Lamar Jackson is producing as one of the best signal callers charted in the PFF era (since 2006). His 95.3 overall grade in 2024 is the highest-ever recorded by a quarterback – playoffs included. Getting Jackson more help is crucial to capitalizing on his prolific play, and Adams could be the key."
It remains to be seen if Adams will be on the trade block. The Jets announced yesterday that they were parting ways with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who played with Adams in Green Bay and was instrumental in the Jets acquiring the five-time Pro Bowler in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders in October.
"Many have just settled on the conclusion that Adams will follow Rodgers wherever he may go," Cameron wrote. "But given how poor their connection looked with the Jets, that's not a foregone conclusion. Instead, Adams could very well strike out on his own and make the most of the limited time he has left to be a key contributor to a productive offense.
"Despite producing his lowest receiving grade (76.8) since 2016, he still has plenty of good snaps left and would provide an established offense with an X-receiver that routinely showcases his savvy route-running and contested catch ability."
Adams, 32, has surpassed 1,000 yards receiving in six of his past seven seasons (he had 997 yards in 12 games in 2019). He has 103 touchdown catches over 11 seasons.
He had one of his best games last year against the Ravens, when he had a season-high nine catches for 110 yards and a touchdown in the Raiders' upset victory in Week 2.
Could Ravens Target Calais Campbell in Free Agency?
After reportedly attempting to trade for Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Calais Campbell before the trade deadline this past season, could Baltimore make another run at the former Raven in free agency?
The Palm Beach Post’s Hal Habib believes it's a possibility.
"Keep an eye on one of his old teams, the Baltimore Ravens," Habib wrote. "Besides waving a wad of cash, they could offer a final run at a ring, which has eluded Campbell."
Campbell, who will turn 39 at the start of the 2025 season, has not indicated whether he wants to continue playing. He showed this past season that he can still perform at a high level, and he played in all 17 games for the second year in a row.
The Ravens reportedly were set to send a 2026 fifth-round pick to the Dolphins last year in exchange for Campbell, who played in Baltimore from 2020-2022, but Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel nixed the deal.
