Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes are often in the same conversation, and one talking head would opt for Jackson. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Rob Ninkovich says he would take Lamar Jackson over Patrick Mahomes to start a franchise

By Blake Harper | Last updated 7/9/20

Patrick Mahomes is widely considered the quarterback you would most want to build your team around but on Get Up this morning, Rob Ninkovich said that he would take Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson over the reigning Super Bowl champion.

"I'm not going with Pat Mahomes," Ninkovich said when Mike Greenberg asked if anyone would not say Mahomes is the best young quarterback to start a franchise with. "I'm going with my guy Lamar. Listen to this: 22 years old last year, led the NFL in touchdown passes and led the NFL in yards per carry as a quarterback."

The battle between Jackson and Mahomes for AFC supremacy is shaping up to be the best quarterback rivalry since Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. The two have won the last two MVPs and look like two of the most talented players to come into the NFL in a long time.

.@ninko50 says he would take Lamar Jackson over Patrick Mahomes and @Foxworth24 would like you all to feel free to let him know what you think of that opinion ✍️ pic.twitter.com/VFp3y0obAB
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 9, 2020

However, most analysts favor Mahomes because of his massive performance in this year's playoffs, where he led the Chiefs to several late-game comebacks, including against the 49ers to win the Super Bowl. But Ninkovich believes that Jackson has a higher ceiling thanks to his ability to attack defenses both on the ground and in the air.

"I think Lamar's upside is absolutely huge," Ninkovich explained. "He's going to continue to grow in the NFL. He's going to learn. He's going to understand when to avoid all those big hits he took last year."

All valid points, and while we could surely spend all day debating which of the two will have the better career, it's hard to imagine either Chiefs or Ravens fans are anything less than thrilled to have a generational talent under center.

More must-reads: