The NFL has been officially warned. After John Harbaugh made bold statements about Lamar Jackson’s improved throwing ability, Ravens veteran Patrick Ricard stepped in with his own insight—revealing why every other team in the league now has a serious reason to worry.
The rest of the NFL has officially been put on notice, and the message couldn’t be clearer: something special is brewing in Baltimore. What began as a simple offseason tune-up has now turned into a league-wide warning, and it all centers around one man—Lamar Jackson. The former NFL MVP has long been known for his electrifying speed, elusive running ability, and ability to make defenders look foolish in open space. But this time, it’s not his legs that have defensive coordinators staying up at night—it’s his arm.
John Harbaugh, entering another season at the helm of the Ravens, recently made a statement that many initially saw as offseason hype. He praised Jackson’s passing skills with an intensity that demanded attention. Harbaugh didn’t just say Lamar had improved—he essentially said Lamar’s throwing game had reached an entirely new level. Coming from a coach known for his honesty and measured words, this wasn’t just coach-speak. It was a declaration. And in a league driven by game tape, numbers, and matchups, when a respected head coach like Harbaugh speaks this confidently, people listen.
But it wasn’t just Harbaugh who raised eyebrows. Soon after, veteran fullback Patrick Ricard—one of the longest-tenured players on the Ravens’ roster and a man who’s seen the highs and lows of the team—added his own layer to the conversation. Ricard, a physical presence who thrives in the trenches and knows the grind of a long NFL season, spoke with a seriousness that only confirmed what Harbaugh had hinted at. According to Ricard, the Lamar Jackson everyone thinks they know is about to shock the league in a completely different way.
Ricard described a version of Lamar that fans haven’t fully seen yet. Not just the dynamic runner or the improvisational wizard who can turn broken plays into touchdowns, but a polished, accurate, and relentless passer. Ricard noted that Jackson’s command of the offense has never looked sharper, and his decision-making in the pocket has reached a new level of maturity. For years, critics have pointed to Jackson’s throwing ability as the lone chink in his armor. While he’s always had a respectable arm and moments of brilliance through the air, skeptics believed that if you could contain his legs, you could contain Lamar.
That thinking, Ricard warns, is now obsolete.
What’s changing the narrative is not just a few offseason workouts or casual reports—it’s the way Lamar is executing in real-time against a high-level defense in practice, with his throws hitting tight windows, his timing syncing perfectly with receivers, and his anticipation showing a quarterback who is clearly reading defenses faster than ever before. This isn’t just “better” Lamar. This is evolved Lamar. A quarterback who, even after an MVP season and years of highlight-reel plays, has leveled up in the one area most doubted he ever could.
And that should terrify the rest of the NFL.
Ricard’s comments were more than just player-to-media chatter. He painted a picture of a quarterback who is not only healthy, motivated, and in sync with his offensive weapons but also laser-focused on silencing the remaining critics. It’s not just about proving people wrong anymore—it’s about dominating in ways that weren’t previously possible. Jackson’s work ethic, attention to detail, and obsession with growth have reportedly reached an all-time high, and he’s been putting in the hours—film, mechanics, timing, footwork, and playbook mastery.
Much of the improvement, insiders say, stems from Jackson’s growing comfort in the Ravens’ evolving offensive system. With new additions to the coaching staff and fresh concepts being incorporated into the playbook, Lamar has had the opportunity to stretch himself as a passer. The offense is less predictable, more versatile, and designed to maximize not only Jackson’s mobility but his vision and arm talent. Ricard emphasized how the play designs now allow Lamar to get the ball out quickly, read defenses more efficiently, and exploit mismatches in a way that previously wasn’t fully utilized.
Then there’s the chemistry with the receivers. For years, pundits argued that Lamar didn’t have enough help on the outside. That’s no longer the case. With a retooled receiving corps, including explosive deep threats and sure-handed route runners, Jackson now has the tools around him to thrive as a passer. Ricard mentioned how the timing between quarterback and receivers in camp looks “surgical”—a word not often used to describe Baltimore’s air attack in the past. The ball is coming out with more zip, more precision, and more confidence than ever before.
And perhaps most important of all, there’s the mindset. According to those around him, Jackson is entering the 2025 season with a chip on his shoulder. The narrative of being a “running quarterback” has always followed him, sometimes celebrated, often scrutinized. But this season feels different. Lamar knows that he has an opportunity to redefine what an elite quarterback looks like. Not just someone who can beat you on the ground, but someone who can sit in the pocket and dissect you methodically, throw after throw. That’s the nightmare scenario for opposing defenses. If Lamar becomes as dangerous through the air as he is on the ground, there’s no real way to stop him—only slow him down and hope for mistakes.
Patrick Ricard isn’t one for exaggeration. He’s a grinder, someone who lets his play do the talking and has never been known to speak in hyperbole. So when he describes Jackson’s development with urgency and belief, it resonates deeply. You can hear in his tone that something is different this year. There’s an energy in the Ravens’ locker room that feels like a warning shot across the bow of the entire league.
Defensive coordinators will now have to spend even more sleepless nights preparing for Baltimore. Previously, stacking the box and containing Lamar’s legs was the blueprint. Now, you might do that and still give up 300 yards through the air. And if you drop back into coverage to protect against the pass? Good luck stopping Jackson when he tucks it and runs. The dilemma is real. The balance has shifted. Lamar Jackson is becoming what many feared he might—a complete quarterback.
For all the headlines that come out of training camp every year, most fall into the category of wishful thinking. This doesn’t feel like that. Between Harbaugh’s genuine praise and Ricard’s concrete observations, it’s clear the Ravens believe they have something special on their hands. And if Lamar Jackson truly has taken the next step as a passer, then the entire AFC—and the NFL as a whole—has a serious problem to solve.
Jackson isn’t just playing for awards or highlight reels. He’s playing for legacy. He’s playing to cement his place among the all-time greats. The doubters have fueled him for years, but now he has the system, the weapons, and the mindset to turn that fuel into fire. And with leaders like Ricard sounding the alarm, it’s no longer just talk. It’s real. The transformation is happening. And the rest of the league is officially on notice.
There’s no hiding from it now. The Ravens aren’t just contenders—they’re coming with a vengeance, led by a quarterback who is out to prove he’s more than just dynamic. He’s deadly. And if the early signs are anything to go by, defenses around the league better start preparing for the version of Lamar Jackson they’ve never seen before—because this one might be unstoppable.
