Lamar Jackson is a long, physical cornerback but may not be a fit for the Arizona Cardinals

When you hear the name Lamar Jackson your immediate response is to lament missing on the MVP quarterback in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Of course Jackson is now on the Baltimore Ravens but in the 2020 NFL Draft there is a new Lamar Jackson and the Arizona Cardinals have met with him.

Jackson is a long, lean defensive back who plays like a corner but moves like a safety. That begs the question of where he plays in the NFL.

His ability to make plays in front of him because of his length and quickness to react are assets.

However, he struggles to turn and run and doesn’t win in press consistently in a way that works in the NFL.

When you watch him play you see flashes of Richard Sherman, with his long, sticky coverage ability on anything short.

The problem is he’s nowhere near the athlete nor does he have the consistency that Sherman possesses.

The comparison I’ve come come up with is Rasul Douglas of the Philadelphia Eagles. A lack of elite level athleticism seems to be the thing that will hold Jackson back to be a consistent corner.

He has tools, and he’s shown flashes and maybe in the right cover three scheme he could work well, but that doesn’t seem to be what Vance Joseph wants to deploy.