Stephen A. Smith Reveals the Quarterback Who Leaves Defenses Completely Baffled—Can Anyone Stop Him?

Can you really pin down just one NFL quarterback who makes opposing coaches lose sleep over their game plan? In a league brimming with prodigious talent—gunslingers who can slash through defenses by arm or by sheer athleticism—picking the toughest puzzle is no small feat. But when ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith throws his hat in the ring, naming Lamar Jackson as the hardest quarterback to scheme against, well… it’s worth paying attention. Jackson isn’t just rewriting the QB rushing records; he’s redefining what it means to be a dual-threat superstar with a rocket arm to match. Sure, the postseason glory has eluded him thus far, but with the kind of blazing stats he’s put up, you’ve got to wonder: how do defenses even begin to prepare for a blur like this? Let’s dive in.

The talent level at quarterback in the NFL is outstanding, with so many teams having elite talents who are capable of dominating a defense with their arm or their legs.

The NFL MVP is slated to be a close race again due to the talent at the top of the league, and ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith recently named a former winner as the hardest QB to game plan for because of that dual-threat ability.

“When you talk about fear, because of his athletic ability and what he brings to that quarterback position, I have to go with Lamar Jackson,” Smith said, via “First Take.”

"When you talk about fear, because of his athletic ability and what he brings to that quarterback position, I have to go with Lamar Jackson."@StephenASmith on which NFL QB is the hardest to game plan for pic.twitter.com/ELSnr9Ipx4

— First Take (@FirstTake) August 8, 2025

The Baltimore Ravens star took his game up another level as a passer, throwing for 41 touchdowns with four interceptions while adding 915 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground despite the addition of running back Derrick Henry, who posted 1,921 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns.

Jackson already has the all-time rushing record for a quarterback, but throwing for 4,172 yards last season made him undeniable as a passer as well.

The only knock on him at this point is his lack of playoff success, though he had some of his best postseason performances last season and gave fans hope that he has it in him to win the Super Bowl.

There are other quarterbacks who could be considered as the hardest to prepare for, but it’s tough to argue with Jackson as the top choice.

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