Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is one of the biggest names who’s been frequently mentioned in the NFL trade rumor mill.
With his rookie contract up, the Ravens have three logical options with Jackson: a) trade b) extend c) place the franchise tag and go from there. With free agency right around the corner, it’s anybody’s guess how things will play out.
But according to a report from Jamison Hensley and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the chances of Jackson getting traded are higher than ever before:
“If there is no compromise, the possibility of the Ravens trading Jackson, who in 2019 joined Tom Brady as the only unanimous MVPs in NFL history, has never been more likely. That’s assuming another team would be willing to make the necessary commitment, which likely would mean multiple first-round picks to the Ravens and a fully guaranteed deal for Jackson.”
A team source also told ESPN, “A couple of months ago, I would have said no way (that a trade will happen. Now it feels like anything is possible.”
An AFC executive also offered this take on Jackson:
“He goes to the front of the line. There’s nobody like him. Maybe there’s been some discord there between the player and the team, but overall he’s still a great player and he’s not a bad guy. The durability is a mild concern.”
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The 26-year-old Jackson was drafted 32nd overall by the Ravens back in the 2018 NFL Draft. He took over as the starter in the midst of the 2018 season and rallied Baltimore to an AFC North division title, the franchise’s first since 2012.
Jackson owns a superb record of 45-16, but he missed five games in both 2021 and 2022. The Baltimore offense greatly struggled without Jackson in the fold, and there’s a good chance they would have upset the Cincinnati Bengals on Wild Card Weekend if the 2019 league MVP was on the field.
Jackson’s winning ways alone give the Ravens good reason to extend him. At the same time, durability gives the organization good reason to think twice about extending him.
One way or another, the Ravens’ decision on Jackson will change the NFL landscape. Will he continue his quest to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Baltimore, or will the dual-threat stalwart start a new chapter elsewhere?
To be determined.
