Dave Portnoy just dropped a bombshell, putting two NFL quarterbacks, Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert, squarely in the crosshairs, calling them the most overrated players in the league. This isn’t just a casual jab, either. Portnoy specifically pointed to these guys as the reason he left both the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers out of his top 10 NFL teams for the 2026 season. Talk about putting the blame directly on the shoulders of your star quarterbacks.
Jackson’s Playoff Woes Ignite Portnoy’s Fire
For Lamar Jackson, Portnoy’s skepticism isn’t exactly new. Earlier this offseason, the Barstool Sports founder straight-up left Jackson out of his top 10 quarterbacks list, citing a huge emphasis on postseason success. And yeah, Jackson’s got those two MVP awards, and he’s one of the most dynamic players in the NFL, no doubt. But his playoff record? That’s still a massive talking point for anyone who questions his elite status.
The stats tell a wild story here too. Jackson tumbled from No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Top 100 all the way down to 69th in 2026. Sixty-ninth! That’s a huge drop, but you know what? He’s still got plenty of fans backing him up. Sportsnet’s 2026 quarterback rankings pegged him at No. 2 overall, right behind Josh Allen, highlighting his insane combo of passing ability and rushing production. They called him one of the league’s most dangerous players. So, yeah, calling him “most overrated” is absolutely going to spark some serious debate across the league.
Herbert’s Reputation Versus Reality
Justin Herbert is a slightly different animal when it comes to Portnoy’s criticism. The big question swirling around him has always been whether his crazy regular-season production actually translates into meaningful wins. NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks voiced this exact concern earlier this year, suggesting Herbert’s “elite” reputation might be a bit premature. Brooks pointed directly to Herbert’s 0-3 playoff record heading into 2026. You can’t ignore that kind of stat when we’re talking about what truly matters in the big games.
Yet, despite that playoff hurdle, Herbert still gets a ton of recognition. He landed at No. 39 in the 2026 NFL Top 100, and fantasy analysts are still ranking him among the top quarterbacks heading into the season. That’s what makes Portnoy’s take so fascinating. We’ve got two quarterbacks widely considered elite, or at least near-elite, by pretty much everyone. But Portnoy is throwing down, saying their reputations have completely outrun what they’ve actually achieved when the pressure cooker is on. Expect Ravens and Chargers fans to be absolutely fired up and ready to argue this one all season long.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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