Bo Nix surges in NFL rankings after latest comparisons to Lamar Jackson

Bo Nix just earned the biggest single-week jump in the latest NFL power rankings: and the comparisons to Lamar Jackson are getting louder.

On 18 July 2026, ESPN’s NFL Matchup Machine rankings placed Bo Nix inside the top 20 quarterbacks, a 12-spot surge that followed weeks of rising draft buzz. The uptick came as analysts dissected film from his rookie preseason and drew fresh parallels to the Baltimore Ravens’ dual-threat QB.

What happened in the latest NFL rankings?

The rankings update, published on 18 July 2026, vaulted Bo Nix from outside the top 30 to 19th overall among NFL quarterbacks. The rise reflected strong early returns in training camp and preseason reps, where Nix flashed pocket presence and decision-making that scouts had flagged during his Oregon tenure.

ESPN’s team of evaluators cited Nix’s Week 2 preseason outing against the Arizona Cardinals as a turning point. He completed 14 of 19 passes for 178 yards and two scores, including a 45-yard strike to a rookie receiver on third-and-long. The performance drew immediate Lamar Jackson comparisons: not just for the arm talent, but for the same burst off the edge and improvisational flair that defined Jackson’s early career.

Why the Lamar Jackson comparisons keep coming

The Jackson parallels aren’t new, but they’re intensifying. Both QBs entered the league as dual-threat playmakers with sub-4.40 forty-yard dash times. Jackson, now a two-time MVP, averaged 6.9 yards per carry in his rookie year; Nix ran for 378 yards and four scores in 2025 at Oregon, and the Ravens have already penciled him in for designed runs in early camp scripts.

“You see the same read-option reads, the same ability to pull and tuck,” said Daniel Jeremiah, the NFL Network draft analyst. “Nix isn’t Jackson’s clone, but the tools package is eerily similar.”

The Ravens, who hold the 25th pick in the 2026 draft, have been linked to Nix in multiple pre-draft scenarios. Their roster already features Jackson, but the front office hasn’t ruled out adding another explosive playmaker to the backfield mix.

What comes next for Bo Nix?

Nix’s camp is keeping the focus on preparation. He’s scheduled to start the Ravens’ third preseason game, a primetime tilt against the Las Vegas Raiders on 22 August 2026. Scouts will be watching his pocket movement and downfield accuracy under pressure: two areas where early camp reps showed both progress and room to grow.

The rankings jump matters beyond optics. It signals that Nix’s Week 1 starter push is gaining traction inside league circles. The Ravens’ offensive staff, led by coordinator Todd Monken, has already scripted designed runs for Nix in practice, a clear sign they’re treating him like a Week 1 option rather than a developmental project.

And if Nix keeps climbing, the comparisons won’t fade. They’ll just get louder: and the Ravens may have to decide whether they’re building around one dynamic QB or two.