Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson took to social media with a bombshell recently, indicating that he requested a trade from the organization in early March.
Said request came mere days before Baltimore placed the dreaded franchise tag on the former NFL MVP. It’s the continuation of what has been a past calendar year filled with bitterness between the two sides.
In announcing that he had requested a trade, Jackson made it clear that he no longer plans to play for the Ravens. But said request is complicated. With Baltimore having placed the tag on its star quarterback, the team can’t trade him unless he signs the tender.
Other organizations can ink Jackson to an offer sheet, sending two first-round picks to Baltimore should it not match. At this point, that might be the best-case scenario unless Baltimore can simply work out a trade with another team while Jackson finds a way to land the massive contract extension he is seeking.
In any event, Odd Shark just released its most-recent next team odds for Lamar Jackson. The Indianapolis Colts top that list at +225 followed by the New England Patriots (+450) and Atlanta Falcons (+600).
Let’s break down the 12 teams mentioned and whether there’s even a fit for the former NFL MVP at this point in the offseason.
Related: Everything you need to know about the Lamar Jackson situation
Analyzing potential Lamar Jackson landing spots
Indianapolis Colts (+225): Indianapolis released Matt Ryan after one disastrous season with the team. It just recently signed veteran backup Gardner Minshew on a smallish contract. These Colts have the fourth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Signing Jackson to an offer sheet while yielding that selection and a 2024 first rounder would be a high price to pay. Perhaps, the Ravens and Colts could work out a trade.
New England Patriots (+450): This could actually make the most sense. We know that young quarterback Mac Jones is in head coach Bill Belichick’s doghouse. He struggled big time as a sophomore. Any move for Lamar Jackson would likely come via signing him to an offer sheet with New England’s first-round pick in 2023 (14th overall) as part of the package heading to Baltimore. The Pats would then trade Jones to Baltimore or another team in a separate deal.
Atlanta Falcons (+600): This team had been linked to Jackson on a near never-ending loop prior to Baltimore placing the franchise tag on the quarterback. Once that happened, leaks came from Atlanta that it was no longer interested in him. With that said, the Falcons were one of the favorites to land Deshaun Watson last offseason before he was sent to the Cleveland Browns. Atlanta boasts the eighth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Detroit Lions (+650): General manager Brad Holmes made it clear that Detroit views Jared Goff as its quarterback of the future after a surprising 2022 season. Even then, the possibility of adding a generational quarterback to Detroit’s stacked roster could make sense. In addition to offering up Goff in a potential trade for Lamar Jackson, these Lions boast two first-round picks (sixth and 18th overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Related: Why Lamar Jackson should negotiate through the media
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+800): This one doesn’t really seem to make much sense. Following the retirement of Tom Brady, Tampa Bay signed Baker Mayfield to compete with youngster Kyle Trask for the starting job. Will general manager Jason Licht blow up the Buccaneers’ retool process by offering up a ton of asset to acquire Jackson? We’re not too sure.
New York Jets (+900): At this point, it seems to be a foregone conclusion that four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers will be heading to the Jets. Rodgers has made it clear he wants to play in Jersey. It’s all about the Jets and Green Bay Packers getting together on compensation in a trade. Should that somehow not happen, Jackson would make sense for a Jets team that’s spent this offseason making win-now moves.
Carolina Panthers (+1000): The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft for Lamar Jackson? In terms of value, this could make a ton of sense. Carolina acquired that selection in a blockbuster trade with the Chicago Bears earlier this offseason. However, we just don’t envision a scenario in which general manager Scott Fitterer and Co. move off that pick for a high-priced quarterback.
Washington Commanders (+1000): We’ve pointed to this possibility for some time now. Washington signed Jacoby Brissett to compete with youngster Sam Howell for its starting job after the failed Carson Wentz experiment. Meanwhile, head coach Ron Rivera is firmly on the hot seat. What is to stop Washington from flirting with Jackson by signing him to an offer sheet?
- Lamar Jackson stats: 63.7% completion, 12,209 passing yards, 4,437 rushing yards, 125 total TD, 38 INT, 96.7 QB rating
Tennessee Titans (+1000): Every move the Titans have made under first-year general manager Ran Carthon has been with an eye on the future. Why would the team go out there and blow up a necessary rebuild by acquiring Jackson?
Green Bay Packers (+1000): Speaking of a potential landing spot coming out of left field. Green Bay has made it clear that the team is more than happy relying on young quarterback Jordan Love moving forward. Even if that weren’t the case, acquiring Jackson as a replacement for Rodgers just doesn’t make sense.
Miami Dolphins (+1000): Miami’s decision to pick up the fifth-year option on Tua Tagovailoa’s rookie contract for the 2024 campaign eliminates the team as a potential laning spot for Jackson.
San Francisco 49ers (+1500): On the field, Lamar Jackson makes perfect sense for the two-time defending NFC runners-ups. But there’s a lot more to this. San Francisco doesn’t have a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, meaning it can’t sign Jackson to an offer sheet. It also has three quarterbacks in Brock Purdy, Trey Lance and Sam Darnold vying for a starting job. While trading for Jackson would make these 49ers odds-on Super Bowl favorites, it’s just not in the cards.
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