Blockbuster trade proposal sees Colts land Lamar Jackson and Raiders move up for 2023 NFL Draft prospect
Lamar Jackson recently made it clear about his desire to leave the Baltimore Ravens and join a new team for the 2023 NFL season. He seems to have grown frustrated with the organization after it declined to award him a long-term contract extension. Instead, the Ravens placed their non-exclusive franchise tag on him, putting his future with the team in serious jeopardy.
In the aftermath of their failed contract negotiations, Lamar Jackson admitted that he formally requested to be traded to a new team during the offseason. If the Ravens do in fact grant his wish, there figures to be several teams interested in acquiring the former NFL MVP winner.
Here's one potential blockbuster trade involving three teams that could happen before the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.
Potential blockbuster trade sees Colts get Lamar Jackson, Raiders move up in 2023 NFL Draft for QB, Ravens land Josh Jacobs and a haul of picks
As per the non-exclusive franchise tag, any team can offer Jackson a new contract in exchange for sending the Ravens two first-round draft picks. No team has yet made an offer, so this potential trade sees a different compensation package.
In a potential blockbuster move that could shake up the offseason as well as the 2023 NFL draft, Lamar Jackson could become the next quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts. The deal involves three teams, including the Las Vegas Raiders, as well as five draft picks and superstar running back Josh Jacobs.
Here's what each team gets from the deal.
Ravens send away Lamar Jackson for four draft picks and Josh Jacobs
- Raiders' first-round draft pick
- Colts' second-round draft pick
- Colts' third-round draft pick
- Raiders' third-round draft pick
- Josh Jacobs
Colts land their franchise QB in exchange for their top three picks in 2023 NFL Draft
- Lamar Jackson
Raiders aggressively send two draft picks and Josh Jacobs to move up in the draft for better opportunity at a QB
- Colts' first-round draft pick
Pros and cons for each team involved in potential Lamar Jackson trade
As with every trade, each team involved will experience some positives and negatives.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens will lose their superstar quarterback, but that's starting to look inevitable anyway. They don't get two first-round picks from the franchise tag, but they get a massive haul that allows them to improve in many areas.
All four draft picks come in the first three premium rounds, while Josh Jacobs led the entire NFL in rushing last year. He can help them get back to their signature ground-and-pound, while the four picks can add quality players capable of contributing from Day 1.
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are in desparate need of a quarterback after releasing Matt Ryan during the offseason. They also signed Shane Steichen as their head coach, who worked with Jalen Hurts on the Philadelphia Eagles last year. Landing Lamar Jackson will allow him to use a similar style of offense where the quarterback is featured as a runner.
The downside for the Colts is that they will be giving away their top three picks in the 2023 NFL draft. This limits their ability to rebuild the roster that missed out on the NFL Playoffs in each of the past two years, but that's the price to pay for an elite quarterback.
Las Vegas Raiders
Despite signing Jimmy Garoppolo during free agency, reports indicate that the Raiders are still interested in selecting a quarterback in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. They currently have the seventh-overall pick, which may be a bit too late to land one of the four highly rated prospects this year.
Josh McDaniels: Raiders could still draft a QB high despite Jimmy Garoppolo signing
via @TheAthletic theathletic.com/4353243/2023/0…
Their bold move to get involved as the third team in this blockbuster deal sees them move up to the fourth pick, where one of the top quarterback prospects is guaranteed to be available. Their selection can also learn behind Garoppolo initially. They will lose Josh Jacobs in the deal, but they declined to sign him to a long-term contract this year anyway. He's currently playing on the franchise tag.