BALTIMORE — It's often said that the NFL draft is an imperfect science, with no greater evidence than the practice of selecting quarterbacks. A first-round signal-caller is no assurance of stability for a franchise, and a complete whiff (i.e. Jamarcus Russell) can set an organization backwards for years to come.
In Brian Billick's new book, "The Q Factor," the former Ravens coach likens drafting a franchise quarterback to "looking for a needle in a haystack ... with high-powered magnifying glasses, night goggles, big data, and Ouija boards."
In "The Q Factor," co-written with Jim Dale, Billick tracks the five first-round quarterbacks from the 2018 draft — Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen and Lamar Jackson — through the first two seasons of their young careers, analyzing the traits that made them so highly touted, all in pursuit of identifying more foolproof keys to predict quarterback success.
Billick spoke to The Baltimore Sun about the new book, what he sees in presumptive No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence and his evaluation of Jackson six games into the 2020 season. This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
