Kyler Murray vs Lamar Jackson: Battle of the Dual Threat QBs

Kyler Murray has been compared to Lamar Jackson since entering the NFL

The Quarterback position is the most important position on the field. He is the field general, the X factor, the key to the overall success of the team. Over time a new breed of quarterback has emerged. A threat on the ground as well as in the air known as the dual-threat quarterback. They deliver an additional menace to any opposing defense while providing their offense with an ace up their sleeve.

Today we will be looking at two of the best dual threat quarterbacks in the league and putting them heads up against each other. Each brings their own unique style of the dual threat archetype. Who are these quarterbacks? They are none other than the Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson and the Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray.

This evaluation will be done with their first three years in the NFL. The data for this analysis will come from multiple categories. Take into consideration that stats only provide historical data as a reference point and cannot predict future outcomes.

Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray

Kyler Murray’s first three years in the NFL go from 2019-2021.

Statistically, Kyler Murray has gotten better each year furthering his development to becoming the Arizona Cardinals’ 1st true franchise quarterback. When it comes to Kyler’s dual-threat ability, he focuses on being a better passer and using his running ability mainly to extend plays and when openings become available.

When it comes to his rushing ability, his baseball background provides him with an edge. Kyler has a very high IQ when it comes to his rushing. He knows when to go down with a slide or run out of bounds. For this reason, he takes less hits. This will benefit him in the long run of his career.

Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson’s first three years in the NFL go from 2018-2020.

Lamar Jackson is on the other side of the coin in comparison to Kyler. His game is focused more on his legs/rushing ability. When it comes to rushing quarterbacks, he is currently on the top of the list. With the dual-threat quarterback archetype having its pros, it certainly has its cons.

Lamar is different when it comes to his rushing in comparison to Kyler. He doesn’t utilize the baseball slide to avoid hits. According to Shauncore from NFL Reddit, in the 2019 season Lamar Jackson had a total of 136 rushing attempts resulting in positive yards. Of those attempts, only 12.5% ended in the fell/stumble/slide category.
In most of Lamar’s run attempts, he takes hits. In the 2021 season, he ended up missing the final five games of the regular season due to injury. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was questioned about his thought on Lamar Jackson’s running ability. Rodgers, who has taken plenty of hits over his career, suggested that Lamar should “slide a little bit.”

Conclusion

Both quarterbacks are remarkable and both present a case to be the better dual-threat quarterback. This can definitely be up for debate when it comes to which categories are more relevant in this epic battle. In my opinion, besides the stats, it comes down to growth, health, and longevity. Ask yourself these questions:

1. Growth – Is the quarterback’s growth going in the right direction?
2. Health – Will the quarterback’s health be a legitimate concern now and years down the line?
3. Longevity – As a dual-threat quarterback, how long can we expect him to produce at the highest level?

Kyler’s career is definitely headed in the right direction consistently improving each year. If he can maintain his current trajectory, his 2022 season can bump him up as a top 5 quarterback in the league. At his current growth rate, he can potentially get 4,126 yards passing with 32 TDs and 570 yards rushing with 6 TDs. A major key to reaching this goal is staying healthy for the entire season.

In Lamar Jackson’s case, his career so far career has been a bumpy one. As a dual-threat quarterback, he takes hits like a running back and every year after his rookie year he has missed time on the field due to injury. There is a reason why a quarterback like Tom Brady is still playing at age 45. He tries to avoid taking hits as much as possible. Taking hits from the opposing defense will put a wear and tear on the body over time. At Lamar’s current pace, can also enter the top 5 quarterback rankings. He can potentially get 3,583 yards passing with 26 TDs and 872 yards rushing with 7 TDs. A major key to reaching this goal is staying healthy for the entire season as well.

When evaluating these two dual-threat quarterbacks, you must also acknowledge what the team does for them plays a significant part in their quarterback’s success. Is the talent they are surrounding their quarterback with enough to bring out their full potential? We will find out when the 2022 NFL season begins. With all that being said, who do you think wins this clash of titans?