Simply put: Lamar Jackson is one of the brightest young stars that the NFL has to offer.
In five years at quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, the 26-year-old has been that franchise QB as evidenced by the team signing him to a five-year, $260 million contract extension in May to make him the highest-paid player at the time.
With that kind of trust in his skills, the Ravens will be looking for Jackson to lead them further in the postseason than ever before.
Here's a look at Jackson's career to date.
Where was Lamar Jackson selected in the NFL Draft?
Jackson, out of Louisville, was tabbed by the Baltimore Ravens with the 32nd overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Quarterbacks taken before him that year included: Baker Mayfield (Cleveland Browns), Sam Darnold (New York Jets), Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills) and Josh Rosen (Arizona Cardinals).
Unanimous League MVP in 2019
After showing flashes of his potential during his rookie campaign in 2018, Jackson exploded in 2019 with an MVP season. The year had him completing 66.1 percent of passes for 3,127 yards and 36 touchdowns, which were a 2019 season-high for QBs. The 2019 season also had him proving to be a dual threat on offense, as Jackson racked up an NFL record for QBs of 1,206 rushing yards with seven touchdowns on the ground.
The Ravens finished 14-2 that season but suffered an AFC Divisional Playoff loss to the Tennessee Titans.
Still, the league had a problem on its hands in the form of a 23-year-old MVP, who won the honors with a unanimous vote.
Jackson is a regular-season winner
How's this for a stat about how much Jackson has meant to the Ravens? According to the Ravens' official website, Jackson's record of 45-16 through five seasons is the fourth-best of any quarterback during the Super Bowl era. Within that, he only trails Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady and Roger Staubach.
The Ravens have made the playoffs in four of Jackson's five seasons at quarterback. But he'll be counted on to take them further than the Divisional Playoffs with bolstered receiving corps via the new additions of veterans Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor, and rookie Zay Flowers.
Is this the year Jackson powers the Ravens to the Super Bowl?