It’s pretty clear that Lamar Jackson will not be returning to Baltimore next season. Schefter reported that Jackson requested a trade in March 2nd. I think both sides are ready to move on. The Ravens probably don’t want to guarantee him $200+ million, and are ready to move on without him. But they also aren’t just going to give him away. What team do you guys see him at? A lot of rumors of him going to Indy. What do you guys think?
Very non descriptive team
Can give a top 10 picks plus more
He’s a good QB albeit not worth anywhere near the guarantees he’s seeking who had a perfect storm/outlier MVP year and hasn’t come close to that performance since then, imho
Atlanta is another spot that Jackson could go to.
Seattle is a bit of a dark horse here but, they could trade say DK, picks and Geno to Baltimore for Jackson. With Jackson and Walker they would be tough to defend.
Indy- but, not sure I see this one as much.
Hou- you never know with these guys
Very non descriptive team
Can give a top 10 picks plus more
They make a ton of sense. They have a nice rushing attack and some playmakers in Pitts and London. Plus they have the picks and cap space to make it happen. That city would instantly fall in love with Lamar. It’s very strange they haven’t pursued him more, especially after their interest in Watson last year.
Why would Atlanta want to re-enter salary cap hell when they just escaped from it?
Why would Atlanta want to re-enter salary cap hell when they just escaped from it?
That’s completely wrong. He’s way too talented a player to sit out an entire year. If he doesn’t get traded, he’ll sign his franchise tag and collect 32 million.
Why would Atlanta want to re-enter salary cap hell when they just escaped from it?
He does have representation, just not a traditional sports agent. And escaping “cap hell” is easy - you take your medicine for 1-2 seasons and move on. Franchises don’t end when their cap is in shambles.
In this case I hope the teams collude. Because if Jackson gets a 100% guaranteed deal it will be the death of the NFL.
The smaller franchises would not be able to afford a roster with the escalating salaries. Teams would go bankrupt.
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There is a better chance he sits out 2023 than is traded.
Why would Atlanta want to re-enter salary cap hell when they just escaped from it?
That’s completely wrong. He’s way too talented a player to sit out an entire year. If he doesn’t get traded, he’ll sign his franchise tag and collect 32 million.
Talent might not have anything to do with it. He's representing himself and isn't making good decisions. He might be arrogant and misguided enough to sit out. Probably not, but time will tell.
He did sit out the last 6 games (including playoffs), when some people thought he could've come back. Glad he's not our problem.
Too much water under the bridge
In this case I hope the teams collude. Because if Jackson gets a 100% guaranteed deal it will be the death of the NFL.
The smaller franchises would not be able to afford a roster with the escalating salaries. Teams would go bankrupt.
Team decision makers don't have to collude to come to the same common sense conclusion.
In this case I hope the teams collude. Because if Jackson gets a 100% guaranteed deal it will be the death of the NFL.
The smaller franchises would not be able to afford a roster with the escalating salaries. Teams would go bankrupt.
He said he isn’t looking for a fully guaranteed deal so he was either never looking for it, or came off that demand, unless he’s lying.
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In comment 16076018 ZogZerg said:
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There is a better chance he sits out 2023 than is traded.
Why would Atlanta want to re-enter salary cap hell when they just escaped from it?
That’s completely wrong. He’s way too talented a player to sit out an entire year. If he doesn’t get traded, he’ll sign his franchise tag and collect 32 million.
Talent might not have anything to do with it. He's representing himself and isn't making good decisions. He might be arrogant and misguided enough to sit out. Probably not, but time will tell.
He did sit out the last 6 games (including playoffs), when some people thought he could've come back. Glad he's not our problem.
I don’t care how misguided he is. He’s not passing up 32 million dollars guaranteed. That’s more money than he’s made throughout his entire career.
Lamar Jackson has been a massive advantage being on a rookie contract.
Lamar Jackson is completely reliant on his legs and is now dealing with a knee injury.
Let the Commanders give up assets to get him and then pay him a massive amount of money. Good luck.
I know Greg Roman is held in high regard but there’s plenty of good OCs out there and teams with better weapons. I can actually see Jackson becoming a better passer. I don’t think his injury history is a big deal especially if whoever is interested plans on running a slightly different offense anyway.
So I disagree, it’s about the 2 firsts on top of the money. Lamar Jackson would be getting a monster deal if he was a UFA.
I've said previously that Jackson will get you to the play-offs, but is not the calibre to win play-off games, but with the right talent around him, that scenario could change.
This I can't agree with. Why is it ok for teams to make it all about business, but once a player does, its blasphemy? Look at RG3. His career was destroyed because he tried to step up for his team and play with a bum knee. How much money did he lose out on because of that? Did the skins pay him a bunch of money as a thank you?
I'll take that bet!!
Same here, not only that but his contract demands are ludicrous. His argument appears to be that since the Browns committed the most idiotic signing in league history by signing Watson to a contract with $230 million guaranteed. The previous high at that time was $120 million guaranteed. Jackson argument is that should be the new threshold but no other team has come close to giving that out.
Just because the Browns handed out a historically idiotic contract that doesn't mean that other teams are willing to come close to that especially with a player like Jackson.
That's not true, if a team signs him to an offer sheet it is in fact two 1st round picks going to Baltimore if they didn't match which it is obvious that they will not. They can always work out a trade with a team for less than two 1st round picks though.
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a “business decision” to not play in the playoffs, tells me, on the surface at least, all I need to know about this guy if I’m a GM
This I can't agree with. Why is it ok for teams to make it all about business, but once a player does, its blasphemy? Look at RG3. His career was destroyed because he tried to step up for his team and play with a bum knee. How much money did he lose out on because of that? Did the skins pay him a bunch of money as a thank you?
Apples and oranges. He was under contract to play. He apparently chose not to be a team player when the chips were down. If he had sat out preseason and/or the regular season, that would be fine. But you don’t abandon your team once you’ve played during the season (save for an understandable injury), when they need you the most
No team is going to meet his guaranteed money demands.
It does seem that his tweet today shows that he does not want to play with the Ravens anymore.
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To an offer sheet, and the Ravens decline, it doesn’t have to be two #1 picks. Whatever the Ravens find suitable will work. It could be a #1 and 2 second round picks. Nowhere does it say it has to be two number 1 picks.
That's not true, if a team signs him to an offer sheet it is in fact two 1st round picks going to Baltimore if they didn't match which it is obvious that they will not. They can always work out a trade with a team for less than two 1st round picks though.
This confuses me. Is the difference whether the tag is signed or not? So unsigned tag, two #1 picks needed. Signed tag, trade for whatever the teams agree?
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To an offer sheet, and the Ravens decline, it doesn’t have to be two #1 picks. Whatever the Ravens find suitable will work. It could be a #1 and 2 second round picks. Nowhere does it say it has to be two number 1 picks.
That's not true, if a team signs him to an offer sheet it is in fact two 1st round picks going to Baltimore if they didn't match which it is obvious that they will not. They can always work out a trade with a team for less than two 1st round picks though.
How is it not true if you, yourself just said that they can work out a trade for less than 2 first round picks?
Young?
Stroud?
Levis?
Richardson?
I'm not sure Lamar is currently a slam dunk in exchange for any of them given his performance and injury history sliding for 3 years now.
Young?
Stroud?
Levis?
Richardson?
I'm not sure Lamar is currently a slam dunk in exchange for any of them given his performance and injury history sliding for 3 years now.
Not all 4 of those guys will become stars. History has shown that maybe 2 out of the 4 QBs will become stars. Lamar is a proven NFL player. If you’re Indy, do you want the 3 best QB in that group or do you want a star NFL player in his prime.
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In comment 16076080 JoeyBigBlue said:
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To an offer sheet, and the Ravens decline, it doesn’t have to be two #1 picks. Whatever the Ravens find suitable will work. It could be a #1 and 2 second round picks. Nowhere does it say it has to be two number 1 picks.
That's not true, if a team signs him to an offer sheet it is in fact two 1st round picks going to Baltimore if they didn't match which it is obvious that they will not. They can always work out a trade with a team for less than two 1st round picks though.
How is it not true if you, yourself just said that they can work out a trade for less than 2 first round picks?
my understanding is it would have to be some sort of sign and trade...for less than the 2 #1s-
How is it not true if you, yourself just said that they can work out a trade for less than 2 first round picks?
Ok, once again. If he SIGNS with another team that team will have to send two 1st round picks to the Ravens since they tagged him with the non-exclusive franchise tag.
Now if another team wants Jackson but is unwilling to sign him and give up two 1st round picks they can trade for his rights giving up less and then sign him to a long term deal.
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How is it not true if you, yourself just said that they can work out a trade for less than 2 first round picks?
Ok, once again. If he SIGNS with another team that team will have to send two 1st round picks to the Ravens since they tagged him with the non-exclusive franchise tag.
Now if another team wants Jackson but is unwilling to sign him and give up two 1st round picks they can trade for his rights giving up less and then sign him to a long term deal.
So basically the two #1s really never has to happen, if the teams agree? I find this confusing, but I know players are tagged and traded for less than two #1s all the time. Fans treat two #1s as gospel
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keeping draft picks and taking a chance on:
Young?
Stroud?
Levis?
Richardson?
I'm not sure Lamar is currently a slam dunk in exchange for any of them given his performance and injury history sliding for 3 years now.
Not all 4 of those guys will become stars. History has shown that maybe 2 out of the 4 QBs will become stars. Lamar is a proven NFL player. If you’re Indy, do you want the 3 best QB in that group or do you want a star NFL player in his prime.
You need to figure the cost of Lamar into the calculation though. Giving him the massive amount of money he wants restricts what you can do elsewhere, and is a risk with his injury history.
For those who have comments on how Dimitroff built teams down there, never forget Artie was breaking ties when Smith and Dimitroff were opposed 180 degrees on how to generate pass rush for example.
If he has visions of hugging Lamar on the sidelines, it will happen.
Unless he changes his contract demands, my guess is that he plays on the FT this year. I don't see him holding out and walking away from $32M.
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In comment 16076093 JoeyBigBlue said:
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How is it not true if you, yourself just said that they can work out a trade for less than 2 first round picks?
Ok, once again. If he SIGNS with another team that team will have to send two 1st round picks to the Ravens since they tagged him with the non-exclusive franchise tag.
Now if another team wants Jackson but is unwilling to sign him and give up two 1st round picks they can trade for his rights giving up less and then sign him to a long term deal.
So basically the two #1s really never has to happen, if the teams agree? I find this confusing, but I know players are tagged and traded for less than two #1s all the time. Fans treat two #1s as gospel
Yes a team can trade for Lamar Jackson's rights for less than two 1st round picks. Once they obtain his rights they can then sign him long term the same as if the Ravens were to sign him long term now.
The other option is that a team can just sign him now to an offer sheet but they would surrender two 1st round picks to Baltimore as Baltimore still owns his rights. Then there is also the chance that Baltimore matches the offer sheet but it is clear that Baltimore would be thrilled to land two 1st for Jackson.
I read an article recently quoting executives is that the biggest barrier between Lamar getting a contract is that teams don't know EXACTLY what he was wants. Does he want fully guaranteed, front loaded, when does he want to come back to the table, etc. He's basically negotiating through Twitter without being explicit in terms of what he wants. An agent would help him there. If he had representation handling this the way he currently he is, Lamar would likely fire that representative. He needs to do the same with himself or at the very least, find a more suitable advisor. He's fumbling this completely.