Lamar Jackson Rumors: Teams Struggling to Book 2018 NFL Draft Meetings with QB

NFL teams are reportedly struggling to set up individual meetings with Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson ahead of next month's draft, according to NFL Network's Mike Mayock. 

"I've had several teams tell me they're having trouble just getting to set up appointments to meet with him," Mayock said on NFL Network on Thursday. "Not just work out, but appointments to meet with him, to put him up on the board, to work him out, to have dinner with him. And remember, and again I'm not taking a shot here at anybody, his mom is representing him, his mom has obviously his best interest at heart, but you're doing the kid a disservice if NFL coaches and general managers are calling and you can't even get an appointment set up."

Jackson was on hand for Louisville's pro day Thursday but once again declined to go through any athletic testing. He threw at the NFL combine but declined to do testing there as well, saying he wants to be judged as a quarterback.

Teams had asked him to also go through wide receiver drills for a potential position change, despite the fact that he's never played the position. Jackson told reporters at the combine he is not open to switching positions and highlighted his skills as a quarterback.  

“I’m mobile,” Jackson said. “I can hit any target on the field. I love the game with a passion. I can lead my team; I feel like I’m a field general when I’m out there. I love to score. I love to put the ball in other people’s hands. I’m not a ball hog at all. It may look like it, but I’m not. I just love winning.”

Jackson won the 2016 Heisman Trophy and holds a number of career and single-season records at Louisville. He has struggled with accuracy and ball placement at times, but those questions have come in stark contrast to potential No. 1 overall pick Josh Allen. 

The Wyoming product never completed better than 56.3 percent of his passes during his collegiate career. However, some scouts have been fawning over him due to his traditional makeup. Jackson vs. Allen has become something of a battleground on social media and talking head shows, with some wondering if Jackson is being discounted because he is black.

That said, given his tenuous draft status, it's not a great look that some teams have been unable to schedule meetings.