Larry David says former Jets GM laughed at him when he told him to draft Lamar Jackson

Comedian Larry David is a huge New York Jets fan. But perhaps the team should also add him to their scouting department because apparently the star of HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" is pretty, pretty, pretty good at evaluating young quarterback talent. 

Just about every NFL general manager missed their chance to have Lamar Jackson, who fell to the end of the first round in the 2018 NFL Draft, only to become a superstar with the Ravens.

But David said Tuesday on "The Michael Kay Show" that he loved Jackson coming out of Louisville. In fact, he felt so strongly about it that he called then-GM Mike Maccaganan. 

"I did call Mike Maccagan before the 2018 draft and recommended that he draft Lamar Jackson," David said. "I have a witness."

And it turns out Maccagnan didn't exactly take the request seriously.  

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"He kind of gave me the most condescending ... he laughed at me," David said. "But who can blame him? Nobody thought Jackson was going to be this." 

The Jets ended up taking Sam Darnold with the No. 3 overall pick. He's been solid through two seasons, but nowhere as productive as Jackson, who was selected by the Ravens with the 32nd overall pick. 

Darnold threw for 19 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and 3,024 yards this season, rushing for 62 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson threw for 36 touchdowns, six interceptions and 3,127 yards, rushing for 1,206 yards and seven touchdowns.

There's still a chance that picking Darnold will work out well for the Jets, if they can surround him with talent this offseason. But no matter what, Maccagnan won't be there to see it: he was fired in May. 

Joe Douglas, who replaced Maccaganan, might be wise to listen if his phone rings and David is on the other end.

Andy Vasquez is the Jets beat writer for NorthJersey.com.  Email: vasqueza@northjersey.com Twitter: @andy_vasquez