Every NFL team currently without an established future at the quarterback position is interested in learning more about Florida’s Anthony Richardson. He’s considered a top-ten pick and one of the players with the highest ceilings in the 2023 NFL Draft class.
Yet, usually, when a team has a young NFL MVP as their QB1, they wouldn’t bother wasting their time on a player that doesn’t fit their needs. However, the Baltimore Ravens’ current situation with Lamar Jackson is not your typical scenario.
While the Ravens have assigned the non-exclusive franchise tag to the 26-year-old All-Pro, he has yet to sign it. Until he does, Jackson can pursue a contract with another team, which the Ravens have the chance to match.
With so much uncertainty surrounding the Ravens’ QB depth chart, Baltimore is also set to meet with Richardson, who is another dual-threat option with a big arm. But what does this say about their contract negotiations with Jackson? Could the Ravens actually be listening to trade calls or considering a move up the board for one of the draft’s top prospects?
Sitting with the 22nd pick in April, it would appear the Ravens are way out of Richardson’s draft range, which means they’d have to somehow launch into the top ten picks, if not the top five. If Jackson did sign an offer sheet elsewhere, and the Ravens opted against matching, his new team would send Baltimore two first round picks, giving them plenty of ammo needed to make another big trade.
Or, there’s always the chance a team like the Indianapolis Colts, who hold the fourth pick, become convinced Jackson is their best path toward contending for a Super Bowl, which could place the Ravens right where they need to be for Richardson.
That’s a lot of hypotheticals, but the fact that the Ravens are at least doing their homework on one of this year’s top QB prospects suggests a couple of blockbuster trades may not be as crazy as we think.
Related: 2023 NFL mock draft: Seahawks, Colts land QBs, 2-round NFL Draft projection